Changes

==Clinical Significance==

==Clinical Significance==

Other than essential thrombocythaemia, thrombocytosis has no clinical importance except as an indicator of another disease process.  Thrombocytopaenia and thrombocytopathia both result in reductions in the effectiveness of primary haemostasis, producing bleeding disorders.  Since bleeding points are usually sealed by a fibrin clot, disorders of primary haemostasis tend to be less severe than those caused by deficiencies of the coagulation factors.  Common signs of a disorder of primary haemostasis include:

Other than essential thrombocythaemia, thrombocytosis has no clinical importance except as an indicator of another disease process.  Thrombocytopaenia and thrombocytopathia both result in reductions in the effectiveness of primary haemostasis, producing bleeding disorders.  Since bleeding points are usually sealed by a fibrin clot, disorders of primary haemostasis tend to be less severe than those caused by deficiencies of the coagulation factors.  Common signs of a disorder of primary haemostasis include:

*Petechial or ecchymotic [[Haemorrhage - Pathology|haemorrhages]] on the skin or mucous membranes.

*Petechial or ecchymotic [[Haemorrhage|haemorrhages]] on the skin or mucous membranes.

*[[Haemorrhage - Pathology|Haemorrhages]] from the mucous membranes, producing haematuria, haematochezia, haematemesis, haemoptysis and melaena.

*[[Haemorrhage|Haemorrhages]] from the mucous membranes, producing haematuria, haematochezia, haematemesis, haemoptysis and melaena.

*[[Anaemia - Introduction|Anaemia]] with a reactive [[Neutrophilia|neutrophilia]] and [[Monocytosis|monocytosis]] if the haemorrhage is severe.

*[[Regenerative and Non-Regenerative Anaemias|Anaemia]] with a reactive [[Neutrophilia|neutrophilia]] and [[Monocytosis|monocytosis]] if the haemorrhage is severe.

Severe platelet deficiencies may be managed with transfusions of whole blood or, in the USA, with transfusions of platelet cryoprecipitate - this helps to control the anaemia which occurs as a consequence of haemorrhage and which is the life threatening sympton that required correction (rather than the thrombocytopenia).  With both techniques however, it is likely that the transfused platelets have only a short half life in the recipient.   

Severe platelet deficiencies may be managed with transfusions of whole blood or, in the USA, with transfusions of platelet cryoprecipitate - this helps to control the anaemia which occurs as a consequence of haemorrhage and which is the life threatening sympton that required correction (rather than the thrombocytopenia).  With both techniques however, it is likely that the transfused platelets have only a short half life in the recipient.   

The use of Vincristine (a drug also used in chemotherapy for neoplasia) has been advocated in cases of thrombocytopaenia as it increases the rate of fragmentation of megakaryocytes and decreases the descruction of platelets by macrophages. A single intravenous dose is usually given.

The use of Vincristine (a drug also used in chemotherapy for neoplasia) has been advocated in cases of thrombocytopaenia as it increases the rate of fragmentation of megakaryocytes and decreases the descruction of platelets by macrophages. A single intravenous dose is usually given.

[[File:CABI logo.jpg|left|90px]]

|literature search = [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=title%3A%28thrombocytopenia%29+OR+title%3A%28thrombocytopaenia%29&fq=sc%3A%22ve%22 Thrombocytopaenia publications]

 

 

[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=title%3A%28thrombocytopenia%29+OR+title%3A%28thrombocytopaenia%29&fq=sc%3A%22ve%22 Thrombocytopaenia publications]

[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=title%3A%28thrombocytopathia%29+ Thrombocytopathia publications]

[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=title%3A%28thrombocytopathia%29+ Thrombocytopathia publications]

[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=title%3A%28thrombocytosis%29&fq=sc%3A%22ve%22 Thrombocytosis publications]

[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=title%3A%28thrombocytosis%29&fq=sc%3A%22ve%22 Thrombocytosis publications]

[[Category:Haemorrhagic Diseases]]

[[Category:Haemorrhagic Diseases]]

[[Category:Haematology Changes]]

[[Category:Haematology Changes]]