title: Establishing the etiology of thrombocytopenia.
abstract: Hemostasis is dependent on an adequate number of well-functioning platelets in the circulating blood. As the number of circulating platelets decreases, the chance of bleeding increases. Thrombocytopenia, a platelet count of less than 150,000 per microliter, is a laboratory finding and not a diagnosis. Therefore, once thrombocytopenia is identified, a detailed history, physical examination, and further laboratory tests are used to establish an etiology. This article reviews the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombocytopenia.
authors.affiliation: Regional Cancer Center, Erie, Pa., USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Horrell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rothman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D010976:Platelet Count; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*