Easy bruisability

Abstract

Physicians often see patients who complain of "easy bruising." The skill of the clinician is to identify those patients likely to have a potentially serious underlying disorder from those who do not. A detailed history often provides sufficient information. A comprehensive physical examination and possibly some baseline laboratory studies can add more data. These tools should permit the clinician to decide if the patient is either basically normal, may have simple contributing factors that lead to bruising, or is at significant risk of bleeding due to the presence of an underlying disorder. In certain circumstances, the situation will prompt the referral to a hematologist or other specialist (gastroenterologist, nephrologist, rheumatologist, endocrinologist, etc.).