Mild bleeding disorders. A clinical and laboratory study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate in-vitro haemostasis in subjects with symptoms suggesting a mild bleeding disorder.


METHODS
A prospective study in which an extensive range of in-vitro tests were applied unselectively.


METHODS
Patients were referred from community-based practices and hospital outpatient services.


METHODS
Ninety-three consecutive patients were examined. Hospital patients with severe illness were excluded.


METHODS
Patients presented with easy bruising (68%), epistaxis (12%), excessive operative bleeding (7%), menorrhagia (4%), haematuria (3%), dental bleeding (1%) and bleeding from other sites (5%). In no instance was the bleeding life threatening.


METHODS
Results of laboratory tests for patients presenting with the symptoms of a mild bleeding disorder were compared with the results for a healthy reference group.


RESULTS
Abnormal results of in-vitro tests were found in 53% of the subjects. Thirteen per cent had a prolonged bleeding time, of whom the majority had abnormal results of other in-vitro tests. Von Willebrand's disease was diagnosed in 7% of patients, although only half of these had a prolonged bleeding time.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal results of in-vitro tests were prevalent among subjects with symptoms of mild bleeding disorder. Easy bruising was as powerful a clue as any other bleeding manifestation to the presence of an abnormal in-vitro test result.
Parkin
J D
JD
Haematology Department, Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg West, VIC.
Smith
I L
IL
O'Neill
A I
AI
Ibrahim
K M
KM
Butcher
L A
LA
D001760:Bleeding Time; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000097:blood; D010979:Platelet Function Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values