Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Dec 8;2023(1):254-258.
doi: 10.1182/hematology.2023000478.

How to manage ITP with life-threatening bleeding

Affiliations
Review

How to manage ITP with life-threatening bleeding

Jean M Connors et al. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. .

Abstract

While immune thrombocytopenia often presents with mild bleeding manifestations or surprising findings of thrombocytopenia on routine complete blood counts in patients without symptoms, some patients can present with new thrombocytopenia and life-threatening bleeding. Emergent assessment and treatment are needed to prevent substantial morbidity and even mortality. These patients present to the emergency room with bleeding, and hematologists are subsequently consulted. Understanding the approach to making the diagnosis and excluding other life-threatening illnesses is essential, as is rapid initiation of treatment in the bleeding patient even when the diagnosis of immune- mediated thrombocytopenia is tentative. Using a case-based format, we review how to approach and treat patients presenting with new thrombocytopenia and bleeding.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Steven Fein: speakers bureau for Amgen and Sobi. Jean Connors: Nothing to disclose.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract

References

    1. Neunert C, Noroozi N, Norman G, et al.. Severe bleeding events in adults and children with primary immune thrombocytopenia: a systematic review. J Thromb Haemost. 2015;13(3):457. doi:10.1111/jth.12813. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cohen YC, Djulbegovic B, Shamai-Lubovitz O, Mozes B. The bleeding risk and natural history of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in patients with persistent low platelet counts. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(11):1630-1638. doi:10.1001/archinte.160.11.1630. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Von Drygalski A, Curtis BR, Bougie DW, et al.. Vancomycin-induced immune thrombocytopenia. N Engl J Med. 2007;356(9):904-910. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa065066. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Liu Y, Chen S, Sun Y, et al.. Clinical characteristics of immune thrombocytopenia associated with autoimmune disease: a retrospective study. Medicine. 2016;95(50):e5565. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000005565. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Van De Wyngaert Z, Fournier E, Bera E, et al.. Immature platelet fraction (IPF): a reliable tool to predict peripheral thrombocytopenia. Curr Res Transl Med. 2020;68(1):37-42. doi:10.1016/j.retram.2019.04.002. - DOI - PubMed

MeSH terms