Vnitr Lek 2005, 51(7-8):854-860

Thrombocytopenic purpuras

P. Salaj

Ústav hematologie a krevní transfuze, Praha, ředitel prof. MUDr. Pavel Klener, DrSc.

Thrombocytopenic purpura represents a heterogeneous group of diseases which is characterized by bleeding tendency and a low number of platelets. In general, the risk of bleeding increases with a decreased number of platelets. However, the patient prognosis depends more on the type and cause of disease than on platelet numbers. The detailed differential diagnosis of thrombocytopenia is very important because the reduced number of platelets is only one of the symptoms associated with other diseases. Pathophysiological etiology of thrombocytopenias is characterized by low platelet production, higher platelet destruction in blood stream or sequestration of platelet in reticulo-endothelial system. Consumptive non-autoimmune thrombocytopenias are the most risky from the group of thrombocytopenic purpura. They represent high risk of a severe bleeding and consumptive microangiopathy connected with organ ischemia.

Keywords: thrombocytopenic purpura; bleeding; platelets; consumptive microangiopathy

Received: March 15, 2005; Accepted: March 15, 2005; Published: July 1, 2005  Show citation