Excessive bleeding can result from:
Primary Hemostasis
Secondary Hemostasis
Vascular abnormalities
Causes of thrombocytopenia
Decreased production
Decreased survival
Sequestration
Dilution
Immune thrombocytopenia
> Destruction caused by deposition of antibodies or immune complexes on platelets
>Can be autoantibodies (recognize self antigens)
>Can be alloantibodies
Where do alloantibodies for thrombocytopenia come from?
> Can arise when platelets are transfused
Can arise when platelets cross placenta
>IgG from mother can cause fetal thrombocytopenia
Non-immune causes of decreased platelet survival in thrombocytopenia
> Mechanical injury- heart valves
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
Thrombotic microangiopathies
Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
> Caused by autoantibody mediated platelet destruction
|»_space;Primary or idiopathic (diagnosis of exclusion)
Secondaries for Chronic ITP
> Systemic lupus erythematosis
HIV
B-cell neoplasms such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Many others
Pathogenesis of chronic ITP
> Autoantibodies most often directed against platelet surface glycoproteins IIb/IIIa or Ib-IX (typically IgG)
Anti-platelet Ab act as opsonins
>IgG Fc receptor recognition by macrophages in the reticuloendothelial system (spleen)
>Megakaryocytes may also be affected → further thrombocytopenia
>Splenectomy seems to help many patients (no more phagocytosis or autoantibody)
Clinical aspect of chronic ITP
Labs of chronic ITP (diagnosis of exclusion)
Treatment/prognosis of chronic ITP
> glucocorticoids (inhibit phagocyte function) (may respond, many relapse)
spontaneous remission within one or more years possible
splenectomy for severe thrombocytopenia (increased risk of infections)
immunomodulation (if splenectomy fails or is contraindicated)
>IVIG
>rituximab (anti-CD20 antibody)
peptides mimicking thrombopoietin (TPO-mimetics)
Acute ITP
Mechanisms of drug-induced thrombocytopenia
Direct destruction
Immune-mediated destruction
Drug instigates autoantibody (rarer)
Most common drugs causing drug-induced thrombocytopenia
> Bind platelet glycoproteins (IIb/IIIa)→ antibody recognition of antigenic determinants
>Quinine
>Quinidine
>Vancomycin
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
Potentially deadly, arterial and venous thrombosis, limb loss or threatened loss, and/or pulmonary thromboembolism
Two types of HIT
> Type I: not usually clinically significant
>Rapid onset after therapy, likely secondary to platelet aggregating effect
Type II: (clinically significant - less common)
>Occurs 5-14 days after therapy initiation, sooner if pre-sensitized
Type II HIT
> Causes (paradoxical) thrombosis, not bleeding
(unfractionated heparin, but may still occur with LMWH -
almost never occurs with fondaparinux)
Mechanism
>Antibodies to heparin-platelet factor 4 (PF4) complex
»>PF4 is produced by activated platelets
>Antibody binding causes further platelet activation, even if thrombocytopenia
>Get aggregation and consumption, leads to prothrombotic state
HIV-Associated thrombocytopenia pathophysiology
> CD4 and CXCR4 on megakaryocytes
(can become HIV-infected >
leads to apoptosis and impaired platelet production)
B-cell hyperplasia/dysregulation leading to autoantibody formation against platelet GPIIb-IIIa (destruction in spleen)
Thrombotic Microangiopathies
> Caused by insults that lead to excessive platelet activation
>Deposit as thrombi in small blood vessels
>Cause microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
>Leads to widespread organ dysfunction
>Results in thrombocytopenia secondary to consumption
PT, PTT usually normal
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) pentad
Fever microangiopathic hemolytic Anemia Thrombocytopenia Renal insufficiency Neurologic symptoms (FATRN)
Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS)
- Lacks fever and neurologic symptoms