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''' haemorrhages on the skin or mucous membranes.

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

*'''Haemorrhages from the mucous membranes''', producing haematuria, haematochezia, haematemesis, haemoptysis and melaena.

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

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

*[[Anaemia - Introduction|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.  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.  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 causes the release of immature platelets from the bone marrow.

The use of Vincristine (a drug also used in chemotherapy for neoplasia) has been advocated in cases of thrombocytopaenia as it causes the release of immature platelets from the bone marrow.

[[Category:Haemorrhagic Diseases]]

[[Category:Haemorrhagic Diseases]]

[[Category:To Do - James]][[Category:Haematology Changes]][[Category:To Do - Review]]

[[Category:To Do - James]][[Category:Haematology Changes]][[Category:To Do - Review]]