Differential diagnosis and management of thrombocytopenia in childhood.
The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a firm knowledge of the major causes of thrombocytopenia and their treatments, and to form a broad differential diagnosis, so that it will be clearer when to consider a rare etiology. The various etiologies are presented by known disease entities, grouped by age,and described as they would occur and be considered in a realistic clinical setting. A brief categorization of causes of thrombocytopenia by mechanism, notably abnormal platelet production, platelet destruction, or sequestration, is included. With each disease process, the pathophysiology as it is currently known is described and discussed.
Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Rosandra N
RN
Kaplan
James B
JB
Bussel
D025861:Blood Coagulation Disorders, Inherited / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*