How We Interpret Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome?

Abstract

Platelets play an important role in hemostasis, and a low platelet count usually increases the risk of bleeding. Conditions in which thrombosis occurs despite low platelet counts are referred to as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, including heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, antiphospholipid syndrome, thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), and disseminated intravascular coagulation. TMA includes thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and atypical HUS. Patients with these pathologies present with thrombosis and consumptive thrombocytopenia associated with the activation of platelets and the coagulation system. Treatment varies from disease to disease, and many diseases have direct impacts on mortality and organ prognosis if therapeutic interventions are not promptly implemented. Underlying diseases and the results of physical examinations and general laboratory tests as part of a thorough workup for patients should promptly lead to therapeutic intervention before definitive diagnosis. For some diseases, the diagnosis and initial treatment must proceed in parallel. Utilization of not only laboratory tests but also various scoring systems is important for validating therapeutic interventions based on clinical information.

Keywords

• thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome
• heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
• vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia
• paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
• antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
• thrombotic microangiopathy