Platelet Disorders

Question 1

What are the clinical features of idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura?

Answer 1

Easy bruising
Epistaxis and menorrhagia
No systemic illness
Splenomegaly rare
Isolated thrombocytopaenia (other blood cells normal)
Normal bone marrow with normal or increase megakaryocytes

Question 2

what are the features of platelet disorders?

Answer 2

petechiae +/- ecchymoses, bleeding from mucus membranes, platelet count

Question 3

What are the 2 types of ITP?

Answer 3

Acute: usually in children, usually post viral. 90% resolve within 6 months
Chronic: autoimmune disorder, usually in adults. Rarely spontaneously resolve.

Question 4

What is thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura?

Answer 4

Uncommon, life threatening syndrome of haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, extremely high LDL
Clinical features include fever (non infectious), neurological and kidney abnormalities.