Authentic and Spurious Causes of Thrombocytopenia

Authentic and Spurious Causes of Thrombocytopenia is organized by MediaLab, Inc.

Course Description:
Platelets are the first responders to a bleeding incident. If the full platelet force does not arrive on the scene, bleeding will continue and peticheae, bruises, and perhaps even hemorrhaging will occur. A decreased platelet force (thrombocytopenia) may be caused by several diseases or disorders. On the other hand, a low platelet count may not actually mean that the full platelet force is not available to respond. It is up to the laboratory professional to determine if there is anything in the collection procedure that has artificially produced this low count. This course will increase your understanding of various authentic causes of thrombocytopenia and will alert you to various causes of spurious thrombocytopenia that you, as a medical laboratory scientist should be able to recognize and correct to prevent false reporting of thrombocytopenia.

Objectives:
• Define thrombocytopenia.
• Recognize clinical signs that are associated with thrombocytopenia.
• Identify conditions that cause the destruction of platelets.
• Describe current treatments for various conditions that cause thrombocytopenia.
• Identify conditions that cause decreased platelet production.
• Recognize and correct falsely-decreased platelet counts.

Course Outline:
• Introduction
    • Definition of Thrombocytopenia
    • Signs Associated With Thrombocytopenia
    • Which of the following is a clinical sign that is associated with thrombocytopenia?
• Conditions causing increased destruction and consumption of platelets
    • Increased Platelet Destruction
  • Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
    • Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
    • Acute Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia
    • Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
    • Thrombocytopenia in Neonates
    • Treatment for ITP
    • Match each of the statements listed below with the type of ITP with which it is most closely associated.
  • Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia
    • Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia
    • Pathophysiology of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)
    • Additional Complications Related to Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia
    • When heparin-induced thrombocytopenia occurs, the platelet count noticeably decreases IMMEDIATELY after heparin treatment begins.
  • Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
    • Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
    • Laboratory Findings
    • Treatment of TTP
    • Which of the following bacteria is often linked to diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome?
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
    • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
    • Clinical Signs and Symptoms
    • Laboratory Findings
    • Treatment of DIC
    • Which of the following laboratory results would you find with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) but NOT with thrombotic thrombocytopenic pu...
• Conditions causing decreased platelet production
    • Diseases and Disorders That Affect the Bone Marrow and Decrease Platelet Production
    • Patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments will have deficiencies in platelet numbers as well as red and white blood cells.
• Other causes of thrombocytopenia
    • Increased Splenic Sequestration and Thrombocytopenia
    • Dilutional Thrombocytopenia
• Variables that cause a false thrombocytopenia
    • Preanalytic Variable Leading to False Thrombocytopenia
    • Pseudo-thrombocytopenia: Platelet Satellitism and Platelet Clumping
    • Importance of Addressing Platelet Variables
    • Which of these conditions is associated with a pseudo-thrombocytopenia?
• References
    • References