1/17. Surreptitious bleeding in surgery: a major challenge in coagulation.Apart from inadequate surgical haemostasis, postoperative bleeding can be related to acquired disorders of platelet number, platelet function or coagulation proteins (e.g. vitamin k deficiency, DIC or liver injury). We highlight our experience with three patients who suffered life-threatening bleeding in the postoperative setting. The three patients - a 47-year-old man and 70- and 74-year-old women -- all had negative histories for excessive bleeding with prior surgeries, and all had normal preoperative PT and aPTT tests. Surgeries were resection of ischaemic bowel, cholecystectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting. All patients experienced unexpected bleeding within the first few postoperative days requiring multiple red cell transfusions and surgical re-explorations. Evaluations within the first 4--7 days after surgery revealed that these three patients had developed prolonged aPTT due to demonstrable factor viii antibodies initially at low titre. One patient was treated with high doses human factor viii, corticosteroids, intravenous gammaglobulin and plasma exchanges. The inhibitor was no longer demonstrable after 6 weeks of such therapy, and he has remained in remission without therapy. The second patient was initially treated with high-dose human factor viii infusions. Five months later, prednisone and 6-mercaptopurine were begun for worsening inhibitor titre and diffuse purpura and subcutaneous haematomas. The factor inhibitor remitted, but the patient died from liver failure related to post-transfusion hepatitis. The third patient was initially managed with high-dose human factor viii. Two months later, worsening inhibitor titre and tongue haematoma was treated with activated prothrombin complex, corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. Eight years later, she is on no therapy, demonstrates a mild bleeding tendency and has a stable low-titre inhibitor. There have been a few case reports of inhibitors to coagulation factors including factor viii becoming manifest in the postoperative setting but surgery has not been widely recognized as an underlying cause for acquired haemophilia. This paper speculates on pathogenesis and reviews treatment options. This syndrome is remarkable for its abrupt onset in the first few postoperative days and for its substantial morbidity. The problem is potentially reversible with immunosuppressive therapy. Clinicians should be aware of this syndrome, considering acquired haemophilia in patients with unexpected postoperative bleeding.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = purpura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/17. Preliminary report: treatment of the hemolytic-uremic syndrome with aspirin and dipyridamole.Three children with the hemolytic-uremic syndrome were treated with heparin, aspirin, and dipyridamole. Two of the children had remained profoundly thrombocytopenic in spite of platelet transfusion and heparin therapy. All three patients responded with prompt elevation of their platelet counts and apparent termination of the pathologic consumption of platelets. Our experience suggests not only that primary platelet consumption may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of the HUS, but also that such patients may benefit from therapy with drugs which inhibit platelet function.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3.3978442931494keywords = thrombocytopenic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/17. purpura due to aspirin-induced platelet dysfunction aggravated by drinking alcohol.We report a rare case of prominent purpura induced by aspirin and enhanced by alcohol. A 44-year-old woman presented with a history of generalized purpura. She drank alcohol once or twice a week and regularly took an analgesic preparation, containing aspirin and acetaminophen, for alleviation of headaches. When purpura was evident the patient's liver function was within normal limits and her coagulation time was normal but her bleeding time was prolonged. Red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts were normal but a poor response to platelet agonists demonstrated platelet dysfunction. After stopping the analgesic and abstaining from alcohol for 5 days, platelet aggregation, in response to the agonists, returned to normal and purpura disappeared. When the patient took further doses of the analgesic preparation for 3 days for headache relief, but did not drink alcohol, platelet aggregation was again abnormal but purpura was only slight.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = purpura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/17. Sebastian syndrome: report of the first case in a South American family.The Sebastian syndrome (SS) is a MYH9-related disorders, which are an extremely infrequent group of four autosomal dominant illnesses. SS consist of giant platelets, leukocyte inclusions and thrombocytopenia. To our knowledge, there are no case reports of this syndrome in south america. The propositus was a 35-year-old Argentine woman with a history of purpuric lesions in her lower limbs and thrombocytopenia. Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) was previously diagnosed, but she did not respond to treatment with steroids. family history failed to provide any evidence of hearing loss, easy bruising, nephritis, renal failure or cataracts. The patient and 11 members of her family were evaluated. The diagnosis of SS was established by demonstrating giant platelets, thrombocytopenia and leukocyte inclusions in peripheral smear in two relatives and by peripheral smear and electronic microscopy in the propositus. MYH9-related disorders should be suspected whenever a patient has a low platelet count or a bleeding diathesis of unknown origin. In these cases, the history, carefully peripheral smear exam, immunocytochemistry and electronic microscopy will be of great help. Differentiation ITP with SS is important to avoid unnecessary diagnostic studies and treatments.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = purpura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/17. Defect of platelet aggregation and adhesion induced by autoantibodies against platelet glycoprotein IIIa.A young patient developed chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. prednisone therapy normalized platelet number, but bleeding symptoms did not disappear. Platelet function was severely impaired, since platelet aggregation, ATP release and adhesion to collagen and subendothelial matrix were significantly reduced. Plasma and purified immunoglobulins of the patient reproduced the functional defects in normal platelets. immunoblotting revealed that patient's plasma contained an antibody reacting with a component of platelets with the same electrophoretic mobility of glycoproteins IIIa of normal platelets. Moreover, patient's plasma inhibited the binding of an anti-GPIIb/IIIa monoclonal antibody to platelet surface. Additional immunosuppressive therapy with prednisone and azathioprine normalized platelet function and induced the disappearance of bleeding symptoms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.3978442931494keywords = thrombocytopenic, purpura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/17. Management of bleeding in a multi-transfused patient with positive HLA class I alloantibodies and thrombocytopenia associated with platelet dysfunction refractory to transfusion of cross-matched platelets.thrombocytopenia is a common condition in the critical care setting. Repetitive platelet transfusion might lead to formation of alloantibodies. HLA class I and human platelet antigen antibodies can lead to transfusion-refractory thrombocytopenia. Transfusion of cross-matched platelets often is effective in these patients. We report on the successful use of recombinant activated factor VII in an acute bleeding situation in a multi-transfused patient presenting with positive HLA class I alloantibody status and thrombocytopenia associated with platelet dysfunction refractory to even transfusion of cross-matched platelets. The 41-year-old female patient developed HLA class I antibodies during former episodes of massive transfusion. Her former medical history was empty concerning hemorrhagic events. During this specific bleeding episode the patient suffered from intractable profuse bleeding from the nasopharynx and oral cavity. Global coagulation tests were within the normal range. Platelet dysfunction was confirmed by PFA100. Initially the patient responded well to Desmopressin infusion, but after 36 h she became thrombocytopenic and refractory to even transfusion of cross-matched platelets. Recombinant activated factor VII was chosen as the last resort. Two identical boli of 160 microg/kg NovoSeven each were injected via a central line within an interval of 3 h. After the first injection bleeding was significantly reduced and vasopressor support discontinued. After the second bolus bleeding completely ceased and did not reoccur. We did not observe any side effects. The pluripotent hemostatic agent recombinant activated factor VII might be a new option in the treatment of hemorrhagic episodes in patients presenting with this rare disorder, especially when the patient is refractory to cross-matched platelets or matched platelets are not available.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3.3978442931494keywords = thrombocytopenic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/17. Neutrophil secretory defect in the gray platelet syndrome: a new case.We report the case of a 60-year-old woman who was newly diagnosed for the gray platelet syndrome (GPS). This patient had long-term thrombocytopenia which had been initially misdiagnosed as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). blood smear displayed characteristic gray platelets, allowing the diagnosis to be made, which was confirmed by electron microscopy (EM). Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) appeared poorly granulated on the May-Grunwald-Giemsa-stained blood smear. flow cytometry analysis of PMN demonstrated increased expression of CD35, CD11b and CD18 at resting PMN surface, without any changes after fMLP stimulation. Ultrastructural study retrieved a decreased number of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-negative secondary granules in PMN. Immunolabeling confirmed the presence of membrane proteins and the absence of soluble content in platelet and megakaryocyte (MK) alpha-granules, and the decrease of secondary granules and secretory vesicles in PMN. This new observation demonstrates that the impairment of the secretory compartment of PMN is definitely a hallmark of GPS, and that the detection of these subtle abnormalities should be searched with adequate and up-to-date technical approaches.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.3978442931494keywords = thrombocytopenic, purpura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/17. Early immunization against platelet glycoprotein IIIa in a newborn Glanzmann type I patient.Alloimmunization against platelet glycoprotein IIb and/or IIIa is a complication rarely observed during the evolution of type I Glanzmann's thrombasthenic patients. The occurrence of such alloantibodies is usually due to repeated blood transfusion and greatly complicates the treatment of these patients since they prevent effective platelet transfusion and might, theoretically, cause posttransfusion purpura. We describe the case of a newborn thrombasthenic patient who developed an IgG platelet allo-antibody 1 month after birth. The diagnosis of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia was complicated by the rare platelet phenotype (PLA1-negative PLA2-positive) of the healthy mother, which was probably heterozygous for the abnormal thrombasthenic gene. Immunofluorescence and immunoblotting techniques demonstrated that the patient antibody was principally directed against the platelet glycoprotein IIIa. Surprisingly, this patient had only received four blood transfusions (fresh frozen plasma on days 1 and 2, and standard red blood cell concentrates on days 5 and 6) before the discovery of the antibody, suggesting prior in utero sensitization. This study emphasizes the need for early diagnosis of the disease. Thrombasthenic patients should be transfused with deleukocyted platelet-free blood products.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = purpura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/17. A novel platelet aggregating factor found in a patient with defective collagen-induced platelet aggregation and autoimmune thrombocytopenia.We found a novel platelet aggregating factor in a patient with steroid-responsive immune thrombocytopenic purpura that is associated with defective collagen-induced platelet functions. The aggregating factor and platelet functions were analyzed. The patient, a 58-year-old female, had purpura and prolonged bleeding time despite adequate platelet counts (greater than 140,000/microL) after steroid therapy. The patient's platelets responded normally to all agonists except collagen. Platelet adhesion to collagen fibrils was decreased. The patient's plasma induced irreversible aggregation and ATP release in normal platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This platelet aggregating factor was found in F(ab')2 fragments of the patient's IgG, which caused thromboxane b2 synthesis, elevation of cytoplasmic Ca2 levels, and phosphorylation of 40 kDa protein in normal platelets. platelet aggregation by the patient's IgG was inhibited by prostacyclin, dibutyryl cAMP, diltiazem, disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and antimycin a plus iodoacetate, but ADP scavengers, cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, and heparin had little or no effect. The aggregating activity of the patient's IgG absorbed to and eluted from normal platelets. The patient's Fab fragments did not induce platelet aggregation in eight of ten normal PRP but specifically inhibited aggregation induced by collagen and by the patient's IgG. The major component of an immunoprecipitate made with the patient's IgG from radiolabeled membrane proteins of normal platelet extract had a 62 kDa mol wt, while no such precipitate appeared in extracts of the patient's platelets. These results indicated that platelet aggregation by the patient's IgG was induced by the reaction of an antibody with a specific antigen on the normal platelet membrane through stimulus-response coupling. This antigen may be a collagen receptor on the platelet, most likely a polypeptide of 62 kDa under reducing condition. The defect of collagen-induced aggregation of the patient's platelets seemed to be due to alteration of the membrane protein related to this putative collagen receptor.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5.3978442931494keywords = thrombocytopenic, purpura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/17. Severe platelet dysfunction in a patient with autoantibodies against membrane glycoproteins IIb-IIIa.A young women affected by Hodgkin's disease developed chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. splenectomy induced normalization of her platelet count, but hemorrhagic symptoms did not disappear. The patient's platelets did not aggregate in response to collagen and ADP and the IgG fraction of the patient's plasma induced the same defect in normal platelets. The women's IgG recognized glycoproteins IIb and IIIa of normal platelet membranes. prednisone therapy induced the disappearance of bleeding symptoms and the normalization of platelet aggregation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.3978442931494keywords = thrombocytopenic, purpura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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