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24th July 2024
Overview of thrombocytopenia
Key causes of low platelets can be categorised as follows:
| Decreased bone marrow production | Bone marrow failure, infiltration or suppression |
| Increased consumption, destruction and/or sequestration | Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA, see below) with thrombocytopenia Hypersplenism Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia/with thrombosis (HIT/T) |
| Dilution | Massive transfusion |
Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia is defined by the destruction of red blood cells within the small arteries of the body. Schistocytes can be seen on blood film. The following causes of MAHA will be discussed in detail:
- Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
- Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC)
Other causes include metallic valve haemolysis, malignant hypertension, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and eclampsia.
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