1,721,160 research outputs found
Hereditary thrombocytopenias: A growing list of disorders
Full text linkThe introduction of high throughput sequencing (HTS) techniques greatly improved the knowledge of inherited thrombocytopenias (ITs) over the last few years. A total of 33 different forms caused by molecular defects affecting at least 32 genes have been identified; along with the discovery of new disease-causing genes, pathogenetic mechanisms of thrombocytopenia have been better elucidated. Although the clinical picture of ITs is heterogeneous, bleeding has been long considered the major clinical problem for patients with IT. Conversely, the current scenario indicates that patients with some of the most common ITs are at risk of developing additional disorders more dangerous than thrombocytopenia itself during life. In particular, MYH9 mutations result in congenital macrothrombocytopenia and predispose to kidney failure, hearing loss, and cataracts, MPL and MECOM mutations cause congenital thrombocytopenia evolving into bone marrow failure, whereas thrombocytopenias caused by RUNX1, ANKRD26, and ETV6 mutations are characterized by predisposition to hematological malignancies. Making a definite diagnosis of these forms is crucial to provide patients with the most appropriate treatment, follow-up, and counseling. In this review, the ITs known to date are discussed, with specific attention focused on clinical presentations and diagnostic criteria for ITs predisposing to additional illnesses. The currently available therapeutic options for the different forms of IT are illustrated
Diagnosis and Management of Inherited Thrombocytopenias
No full textThe number of recognized causes of inherited thrombocytopenias has grown in the past 10 years and there are now more than 18 thrombocytopenic disorders with characterized genetic mutations. Moreover, the pathogenic mechanisms of many forms of inherited thrombocytopenia have been identified and prognosis of different disorders, ranging from unfavorable to very good, has been defined. In addition, for some inherited thrombocytopenias, therapies are now available to improve both survival and quality of life for persons with these conditions. Therefore, it is important to recognize when a low platelet count reflects an inherited disorder, and establish a correct diagnosis; however, this remains a challenge because documented evidences about these diseases are scarce. In this review, we address how to diagnose inherited thrombocytopenia, how to differentiate these conditions from immune thrombocytopenia, present a new and simple diagnostic algorithm, and discuss the different therapeutic options. We also emphasize that further research on these disorders is needed, as about half of patients with inherited thrombocytopenias have a disease that is not yet characterized
Effect of different sample preparation methods on the results of the impedance technique in the study of platelet hyper- and hypo-function in whole blood.
No full textNew roles for mean platelet volume measurement in the clinical practice?
No full textSeveral hundreds of studies recently investigated mean platelet volume (MPV) as measured by electronic cell counters in a wide variety of acquired diseases, and most of them found that platelet size was significantly increased with respect to healthy subjects. On this basis, it has been suggested that MPV can be used for diagnostic purposes. Moreover, investigation of subjects with arterial thrombosis not only revealed that their platelets were larger than those of controls, but also found that a high MPV predicted poor prognosis. Despite the large amount of available data, the pathogenesis of increased platelet size in these conditions is unclear. In particular, we do not know whether the increased platelet size is the cause or the consequence of thrombosis. Differences in MPV between patients and controls are usually very small and they reach the statistical significance because of the large number of investigated patients and the standardized methodology for MPV measurement. In real life, the wide variability of MPV possibly due to platelet count, sex, age, and ethnicity, as well as the very poor standardization of the methodologies used for MPV measurement, makes it impossible to decide whether an individual patient has normal or instead slightly increased MPV. So, MPV has presently no role in making diagnosis and defining prognosis in any acquired illness
Qualitative and quantitative pletelet defect with bleeding symptoms as presenting feature of non Hodgkin lymphoma.
No full textA young man with bleeding symptoms, mild thrombocytopenia and abundant marrow megakaryocytes was classified as having idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Neither prednisone therapy nor splenectomy modified the clinical picture. Subsequently, a severe defect of platelet aggregation and release reaction was demonstrated. Fifteen months after the onset of bleeding symptoms, fever and hepatomegaly appeared and the diagnosis of T cell non Hodgkin lymphoma was made on the basis of a histologic review of paraffin sections of the spleen. Chemotherapy induced remission of the lymphoma, disappearance of bleeding symptoms and normalization of the platelet count and function
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