Platelet-related bleeding: an update on diagnostic modalities and therapeutic options.
Platelet-related bleeding is a pervasive and potentially life-threatening problem that can arise in both acute and chronic clinical settings. A growing number of laboratory assays have been developed to rapidly assess underlying platelet dysfunction in the bleeding patient. This article: (1) provides an overview of the current methods of platelet function testing, with a particular emphasis on recently developed "point-of-care" tests, (2) reviews evidencebased transfusion "triggers" and provides an update on new developments in platelet component therapy, and (3) outlines those initial studies that have demonstrated how point-of-care platelet function testing has helped lead to the development of targeted transfusion strategies for the acutely bleeding patient.
Peddinghaus
Marie E
ME
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, PO Box 208035, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Tormey
Christopher A
CA
D001791:Blood Platelet Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010979:Platelet Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000379:methods*