Etiology of Platelet Disorders
Thrombocytopenia
- Dilution after massive blood transfusion
- Decreased platelet production caused by malignant infiltration (e.g., aplastic anemia,multiple myeloma), drugs (e.g., chemotherapy, cytotoxic drugs, ethanol, hydrochlorothiazide, aspirin, NSAIDs, alcohol), radiation exposure, or bone-marrow depression after viral infection
- Increased peripheral destruction caused by hypersplenism, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), extensive tissue and vascular damage after extensive burns, or immune mechanisms (e.g., idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, drugs such as heparin, autoimmune diseases)
Qualitative platelet disorders
- Inherited (e.g., von Willebrand disease, Bernard-Soulier syndrome)
- Acquired (uremia, cirrhosis, medication)
- Disorders of aggregation (Glanzmann thrombasthenia)
- Paraproteins
- Fibrin degradation products
- Disorders of thromboxane synthesis
