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Aside from observing the symptoms characteristic of X-linked thrombocytopenia in infancy (easy bruising, mild anemia, mucosal bleeding), molecular genetic testing would be done to confirm the diagnosis. Furthermore, flow cytometry or western blotting would be used to test for decreased or absent amounts of WASp. Family history would also assist in diagnosis, with specific attention to maternally related males with "WAS"-related disorders. Because "WAS"-related disorders are phenotypically similar, it is important to confirm the absence of the diagnostic criteria for Wiskoff-Aldrich syndrome at the outset. These diagnostic criteria include eczema, lymphoma, autoimmune disorder, recurrent bacterial or viral infections, family history of maternally related males with a "WAS"-related disorder, and absent or decreased "WASp". X-linked congenital neutropenia can be diagnostically distinguished from XLT with persistent neutropenia, arrested development of the bone marrow, and normal "WASp" expression.
Laboratory tests might include: full blood count, liver enzymes, renal function and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
If the cause for the high platelet count remains unclear, bone marrow biopsy is often undertaken, to differentiate whether the high platelet count is reactive or essential.
Anti-platelet autoantibodies in a pregnant woman with ITP will attack the patient's own platelets and will also cross the placenta and react against fetal platelets. Therefore, ITP is a significant cause of fetal and neonatal immune thrombocytopenia. Approximately 10% of newborns affected by ITP will have platelet counts <50,000/uL and 1% to 2% will have a risk of intracerebral hemorrhage comparable to infants with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT).
No lab test can reliably predict if neonatal thrombocytopenia will occur. The risk of neonatal thrombocytopenia is increased with:
- Mothers with a history of splenectomy for ITP
- Mothers who had a previous infant affected with ITP
- Gestational (maternal) platelet count less than 100,000/uL
It is recommended that pregnant women with thrombocytopenia or a previous diagnosis of ITP should be tested for serum antiplatelet antibodies. A woman with symptomatic thrombocytopenia and an identifiable antiplatelet antibody should be started on therapy for their ITP which may include steroids or IVIG. Fetal blood analysis to determine the platelet count is not generally performed as ITP-induced thrombocytopenia in the fetus is generally less severe than NAIT. Platelet transfusions may be performed in newborns, depending on the degree of thrombocytopenia. It is recommended that neonates be followed with serial platelet counts for the first few days after birth.,
The primary treatment for CAMT is bone marrow transplantation.
Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant is the only thing that ultimately cures this genetic disease. Frequent platelet transfusions are required to ensure that platelet levels do not fall to dangerous levels, although this is not always the case. It is known for patients to continue to create very small numbers of platelets over time.
People may be diagnosed after prolonged and/or recurring bleeding episodes. Children and adults may also be diagnosed after profuse bleeding after a trauma or tooth extraction. Ultimately, a laboratory diagnosis is usually required. This would utilize platelet aggregation studies and flow cytometry.
There has been no general recommendation for treatment of patients with Giant Platelet Disorders, as there are many different specific classifications to further categorize this disorder which each need differing treatments. Platelet transfusion is the main treatment for people presenting with bleeding symptoms. There have been experiments with DDAVP (1-deamino-8-arginine vasopressin) and splenectomy on people with Giant platelet disorders with mixed results, making this type of treatment contentious.
Maternal and paternal platelet antigen phenotyping and screening of the maternal serum for anti-platelet antibodies can be performed.
Additionally, platelet antigen genotyping can be performed on the maternal and paternal blood to determine the exact nature of the incompatibility.
Neonatal platelet counts on laboratory testing are typically under 20,000 μL. Higher counts may suggest a different diagnosis, such as maternal immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
The most rapidly effective treatment in infants with severe hemorrhage and/or severe thrombocytopenia (30,000 μL) an infusion of (1 g/kg/day for two days) in the infant has been shown to rapidly increase platelet count and reduce the risk of related injury.
After a first affected pregnancy, if a mother has plans for a subsequent pregnancy, then the mother and father should be typed for platelet antigens and the mother screened for alloantibodies. Testing is available through reference laboratories (such as ). testing of the father can be used to determine zygosiity of the involved antigen and therefore risk to future pregnancies (if homozygous for the antigen, all subsequent pregnancies will be affected, if heterozygous, there is an approximate 50% risk to each subsequent pregnancy). During subsequent pregnancies, the genotype of the fetus can also be determined using amniotic fluid analysis or maternal blood as early as 18 weeks gestation to definitively determine the risk to the fetus.
Recent studies have found that the life expectancy of males with XLT is not significantly affected. Individuals with XLT typically experience milder symptoms than those with other "WAS"-related disorders. For this reason, the long term prognosis for individuals with XLT is generally positive as long as symptoms are managed appropriately. Enhanced treatment methods in the past two decades have significantly improved the prognosis as well.
Pancytopenia usually requires a bone marrow biopsy in order to distinguish among different causes.
- anemia: hemoglobin < 13.5 g/dL (male) or 12 g/dL (female).
- leukopenia: total white cell count < 4.0 x 10/L. Decrease in all types of white blood cells (revealed by doing a differential count).
- thrombocytopenia: platelet count < 150×10/L.
Laboratory tests for thrombocytopenia might include full blood count, liver enzymes, kidney function, vitamin B levels, folic acid levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and peripheral blood smear. If the cause for the low platelet count remains unclear, a bone marrow biopsy is usually recommended to differentiate cases of decreased platelet production from cases of peripheral platelet destruction.
Thrombocytopenia in hospitalized alcoholics may be caused by spleen enlargement, folate deficiency, and, most frequently, the direct toxic effect of alcohol on production, survival time, and function of platelets. Platelet count begins to rise after 2 to 5 days' abstinence from alcohol. The condition is generally benign, and clinically significant hemorrhage is rare.
In severe thrombocytopenia, a bone marrow study can determine the number, size and maturity of the megakaryocytes. This information may identify ineffective platelet production as the cause of thrombocytopenia and rule out a malignant disease process at the same time.
In adults, particularly those living in areas with a high prevalence of "Helicobacter pylori" (which normally inhabits the stomach wall and has been associated with peptic ulcers), identification and treatment of this infection has been shown to improve platelet counts in a third of patients. In a fifth, the platelet count normalized completely; this response rate is similar to that found in treatment with rituximab, which is more expensive and less safe. In children, this approach is not supported by evidence, except in high prevalence areas. Urea breath testing and stool antigen testing perform better than serology-based tests; moreover, serology may be false-positive after treatment with IVIG.
The cause for this disorder appears to be a mutation in the gene for the TPO receptor, "c-mpl", despite high levels of serum TPO. In addition, there may be abnormalities with the central nervous system including the cerebrum and cerebellum which could cause symptoms.
An absolute neutrophil count (ANC) chronically less than 500/mm3, usually less than 200/mm3, is the main sign of Kostmann's. Other elements include the severity of neutropenia, the chronology (from birth; not emerging later), and other normal findings (hemoglobin, platelets, general body health). Isolated neutropenia in infants can occur in viral infections, autoimmune neutropenia of infancy, bone marrow suppression from a drug or toxin, hypersplenism, and passive placental transfer of maternal IgG.
A bone marrow test can assist in diagnosis. The bone marrow usually shows early granulocyte precursors, but myelopoietic development stops ("arrests") at the promyelocyte and/or myelocyte stage, so that few maturing forms are seen. Neutrophil survival is normal.
Needs mention of (rarer) myelokathexis types. e.g. G6PC3 variant and
Regular full blood counts are required on a regular basis to determine whether the patient is still in a state of remission.
Many patients with aplastic anemia also have clones of cells characteristic of the rare disease paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH, anemia with thrombopenia and/or thrombosis), sometimes referred to as AA/PNH. Occasionally PNH dominates over time, with the major manifestation intravascular hemolysis. The overlap of AA and PNH has been speculated to be an escape mechanism by the bone marrow against destruction by the immune system. Flow cytometry testing is performed regularly in people with previous aplastic anemia to monitor for the development of PNH.
The condition needs to be differentiated from pure red cell aplasia. In aplastic anemia, the patient has pancytopenia (i.e., leukopenia and thrombocytopenia) resulting in decrease of all formed elements. In contrast, pure red cell aplasia is characterized by reduction in red cells only. The diagnosis can only be confirmed on bone marrow examination. Before this procedure is undertaken, a patient will generally have had other blood tests to find diagnostic clues, including a complete blood count, renal function and electrolytes, liver enzymes, thyroid function tests, vitamin B and folic acid levels.
The following tests aid in determining differential diagnosis for aplastic anemia:
1. Bone marrow aspirate and biospy: to rule out other causes of pancytopenia (i.e. neoplastic infiltration or significant myelofibrosis).
2. History of iatrogenic exposure to cytotoxic chemotherapy: can cause transient bone marrow suppression
3. X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, or ultrasound imaging tests: enlarged lymph nodes (sign of lymphoma), kidneys and bones in arms and hands (abnormal in Fanconi anemia)
4. Chest X-ray: infections
5. Liver tests: liver diseases
6. Viral studies: viral infections
7. Vitamin B and folate levels: vitamin deficiency
8. Blood tests for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
9. Test for antibodies: immune competency
A complete blood count (CBC) can be done to diagnose anemia (normochromic, normocytic), thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia. Abnormal liver function tests are commonly used to help in diagnosis as the spleen and liver are strongly affected by one another.
The diagnostic workup is directed by the presenting signs and symptoms, and can involve:
- blood counts, clotting studies, and other laboratory testing
- imaging tests (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, sometimes angiography, and rarely nuclear medicine scans)
- biopsy of the tumor.
Patients uniformly show severe thrombocytopenia, low fibrinogen levels, high fibrin degradation products (due to fibrinolysis), and microangiopathic hemolysis.
HPS was identified among healthy blood donors in the north-eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, characterized by absent bleeding symptoms, mild to severe thrombocytopenia (platelets rarely <50 X 109/L)with giant platelets (Mean platelet volume 10fL) and normal platelet aggregation studies with absent MYH9 mutation.
In the blood donors with HPS authors found a statistically higher MPV, RDW and a lower platelet count and platelet biomass.
At present the diagnosis of HPS is made by ascertaining the ethnicity of the patient, as well as assessing for conditions causing acquired thrombocytopenias, and after also excluding the known inherited giant platelet disorders(IGPD) and other congenital thrombocytopenias. Unfortunately some patients with IGPD are treated inappropriately with corticosteroids, immunoglobulin infusions and even splenectomy.
It is extremely important to recognize Harris platelet syndrome, as one third the population of certain parts of Indian subcontinent is affected.
Often, no treatment is required or necessary for reactive thrombocytosis. In cases of reactive thrombocytosis of more than 1,000x10/L, it may be considered to administer daily low dose aspirin (such as 65 mg) to minimize the risk of stroke or thrombosis.
However, in primary thrombocytosis, if platelet counts are over 750,000 or 1,000,000, and especially if there are other risk factors for thrombosis, treatment may be needed. Selective use of aspirin at low doses is thought to be protective. Extremely high platelet counts in primary thrombocytosis can be treated with hydroxyurea (a cytoreducing agent) or anagrelide (Agrylin).
In Jak-2 positive disorders, ruxolitinib (Jakafi) can be effective.
TTP is characterized by thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), the formation of blood clots in small blood vessels throughout the body, which can lead to microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. This characteristic is shared by two related syndromes, hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Consequently, differential diagnosis of these TMA-causing diseases is essential. In addition to TMA, one or more of the following symptoms may be present in each of these diseases: neurological symptoms (e.g. confusion, cerebral convulsions seizures,); kidney impairment (e.g. elevated creatinine, decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], abnormal urinalysis); and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (e.g. diarrhea nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, gastroenteritis. Unlike HUS and aHUS, TTP is known to be caused by an acquired defect in the ADAMTS13 protein, so a lab test showing ≤5% of normal ADAMTS13 levels is indicative of TTP. ADAMTS13 levels above 5%, coupled with a positive test for shiga-toxin/enterohemorrhagic "E. coli" (EHEC), are more likely indicative of HUS, whereas absence of shiga-toxin/EHEC can confirm a diagnosis of aHUS.
Treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a medical emergency, since the associated hemolytic anemia and platelet activation can lead to renal failure and changes in the level of consciousness. Treatment of TTP was revolutionized in the 1980s with the application of plasmapheresis. According to the Furlan-Tsai hypothesis, this treatment works by removing antibodies against the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease ADAMTS-13. The plasmapheresis procedure also adds active ADAMTS-13 protease proteins to the patient, restoring a normal level of von Willebrand factor multimers. Patients with persistent antibodies against ADAMTS-13 do not always manifest TTP, and these antibodies alone are not sufficient to explain how plasmapheresis treats TTP.
Treat the underlying cause
Blood transfusion (PRBC) according to need
The cause of Felty's syndrome is unknown, but it has been found to be more common in those with chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Some patients have Human Leukocytic Antigen (HLA-DR4) in their serum. This syndrome is mostly present in people having extra articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. People with this syndrome are at risk of infection because they have a low white blood cell count.
A diagnosis of TTP is based on the clinical symptoms with the concomitant presence of thrombocytopenia (platelet count below 100×10/L) and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with schistocytes on the blood smear, a negative direct antiglobulin test (coombs test), elevated levels of hemolysis markers (such as total bilirubin, LDH, free hemoglobin and an unmeasurable haptoglobin), after exclusion of any other apparent cause.
USS can present similar to the following diseases which have to be excluded: fulminant infections, disseminated intravascular coagulation, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Evans syndrome, the typical and atypical form of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome, pre-eclampsia, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), cancer that is often accompanied with metastasis, kidney injury, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and side effects from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Of note is that pregnancy associated affections like pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome can overlap in their presentation as pregnancy can trigger TTP episodes.
Patients with fulminant infections, disseminated intravascular coagulation, HELLP syndrome, pancreatitis, liver disease and other active inflammatory conditions may have reduced ADAMTS13 activity but almost never a relevant severe ADAMTS13 deficiency <10% of the normal.
A severe ADAMTS13 deficiency below 5% or <10% of the normal (depending on the definitions) is highly specific for the diagnosis of TTP. ADAMTS13 activity assays are based on the direct or indirect measurement of VWF-cleavage products. Its activity should be measured in blood samples taken before therapy has started, to prevent false high ADAMTS13 activity. If a severe ADAMTS13 deficiency is present an ADAMTS13 inhibitor assay is needed to distinguish between the acquired, autoantibody-mediated and the congenital form of TTP (USS). The presence of antibodies can be tested by ELISA or functional inhibitor assays. The level of ADAMTS13 inhibitor may be fluctuating over the course of disease and depends on free circulatory antibodies, therefore an onetime negative test result does not always exclude the presence of ADAMTS13 inhibitors and thereby an autoimmune origin of TTP. A severe ADAMTS13 deficiency in the absence of an inhibitor, confirmed on a second time point in a healthy episode of a possible USS patient, usually sets the trigger to perform a molecular analysis of the "ADAMTS13" gene to confirm a mutation. In unclear cases a plasma infusion trial can be done, showing an USS in the absence of anti-ADAMTS13-antibodies a full recovery of infused plasma-ADAMTS13 activity as well as a plasma half-life of infused ADAMTS13 activity of 2–4 days. A deficiency of ADAMTS13 activity in first-degree relatives is also a very strong indicator for an Upshaw-Schulman Syndrome.