Thrombocytopenia differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Farbod Zahedi Tajrishi, M.D.

Overview

Thrombocytopenia has a broad range of potential causes. While a good history and physical examination can be helpful to diagnose some of these causes such as drug-induced thrombocytopenia, they usually don't suffice and further evaluation is often needed. There are also some useful points that may guide the physician to an appropriate diagnosis. For example, asymptomatic, isolated thrombocytopenia most probably suggests ITP, while thrombocytopenia in critically ill, hospitalized patients is usually suggestive of iatrogenic causes (eg. dilution), platelet consumption, bone marrow suppression from infection/sepsis, or even drug-induced thrombocytopenia. One should consider however, that a wide variety of other conditions such as autoimmune disorders, nutrient deficiencies, thrombotic microangiopathies could all as well cause thrombocytopenia.

Thrombocytopenia Differential Diagnosis

Differentiating the diseases that can cause thrombocytopenia:

Category Condition Etiology Mechanism Inherited Acquried Clinical manifestations Para−clinical findings Gold standard Associated findings
Demography History Symptoms Signs
Lab Findings
Fever Rash Bleeding BP Splenomegaly Jaundice Other CBC PBS Bone marrow exam PT PTT UA
Decreased platelet production Platelet destruction in blood Platelet destruction in spleen Plt HB WBC
Hematology Bone marrow disorders Myelodysplastic syndromes[1]
  • Unknown
  • Mutation
+ -/+ + Elderly Exposure to + Petechiae, purpura, diffuse erythematous rash + Nl + + Shortness of breath, fatigue Nl Nl Nl Bone marrow examination + clinical manifestation
Aplastic anemia[2] + -/+ -/+ Biphasic (the young and the elderly) + Nl Shortness of breath, fatigue, pallor Nl Bone marrow examination +

laboratory findings

Acute leukemia[3][4] + + -/+ -/+ AML in adults
  • Exposure to chemicals
  • Radiation
  • Pre-existent blood disorders
+/- Petechiae + Nl +/-
  • Weakness
  • Blast cells
Bone marrow examination
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)[5]
  • Mutations
+ + + Any age

(usually younger adults)

Nl ↓/Nl ↓/Nl
  • Hypocellular marrow in certain stages of the disease
Nl Nl Flow cytometry
Condition Etiology Decreased platelet production Platelet destruction in blood Platelet destruction in spleen Inherited Acquried Demography History Fever Rash Bleeding BP Splenomegaly Jaundice Other signs Plt HB WBC PBS Bone marrow exam PT PTT UA Gold standard Associated findings
Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)[6]
  • Deficiency of, or antibodies to, the metalloprotease ADAMTS13  
+ -/+ + Any age
  • Neurologic manifestations
  • Fatigue due to anemia
+ Petechiae Not common Nl or ↑ + Nl

or ↑

  • Fragmented RBCs
NA Nl Nl Laboratory findings
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)[7] + -/+ + Children
  • Exposure to contaminated water or milk
  • Consuming undercooked ground beef
+ Petechiae + Nl

or ↑

  • Fragmented RBCs
NA Nl Nl Laboratory findings
DIC[8][9]
  • Overstimulation of the coagulation system
+ + + Any age + + + + ↓↓
  • Low platelets
  • Low RBCs
↑↑ Clinical manifestation + laboratory findings
Nutrient deficiencies Folate, vitamin B12, copper +
Condition Etiology Decreased platelet production Platelet destruction in blood Platelet destruction in spleen Inherited Acquried Demography History Fever Rash Bleeding BP Splenomegaly Jaundice Other signs Plt HB WBC PBS Bone marrow exam PT PTT UA Gold standard Associated findings
Congenital platelet disorders[10][11] MYH9-related disorders[12] + + Any age, very rare
  • Positive family history
Petechiae + Nl Nl
  • Döhle body-like inclusions in peripheral blood neutrophils
NA Nl Nl Nl Genetic study
  • Autosomal-dominant diseases
Bernard-Soulier syndrome
  • Absence of

Gp Ib-IX-V  

+ + Children, rare
  • History of easy bruising and bleeding symptoms
+ Nl Nl Nl Large platelets NA Nl Nl Nl Flow cytometry Increased

bleeding time

Gray platelet syndrome +
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome Mutation in GATA-1   + Small platelets
Thrombocytopenia with absent radius (TAR) syndrome 1q21.1 deletion and bone marrow failure + + Children Bleeding symptoms + + Nl - Bilateral radial aplasia Nl Nl or ↑ Normal size platelets Nl Nl Nl Evidence of absent radius

+

Laboratory findings

  • Cow's milk allergy
  • Various other anomalies
Alport syndrome Mutation-induced GBM changes + Children Large platelets

+

granulocytic inclusions

Hematuria
Von Willebrand disease VWF deficiency/dysfunction + Rarely More common with O blood type Bleeding symptoms + Nl/ ↓ Nl/↓ Nl Large platelets Nl Nl or ↑ Laboratory findings
Category Condition Etiology Decreased platelet production Platelet destruction in blood Platelet destruction in spleen Inherited Acquried Demography History Fever Rash Bleeding BP Splenomegaly Jaundice Other signs Plt HB WBC PBS Bone marrow exam PT PTT UA Gold standard Associated findings
Rheumatologic/autoimmune disorders ITP[13] + + + Any age Ecchymoses and

petechia

+ Mucocutaneous Nl ↓↓↓ Nl Nl Nl Large platelets, otherwise normal Nl Nl Nl Diagnosis of exclusion
  • Spontaneous remission  
Systemic lupus erythematosus[14] - + - - + Young women, more prevalent in Africans and Asians + Malar rash, generalized maculopapular rash, discoid rash +

Hemoptysis

Nl or ↑ + + Pancytopenia Pancytopenia Clinical manifestation + serology
Antiphospholipid syndrome[15]
  • Autoantibody-mediated syndrome
- + - + + Middle aged women, more in African American and Hispanic population - - - Nl - - Nl Reduced platelets and WBC Reduced platelets and WBC Nl Clinical manifestation + repeated positive tests of aPL
Felty's syndrome[16] - + + -/+ + Rare, young women - - Nl + -
  • Lymphadenopathy
Nl Reduced platelets and WBC Reduced platelets and WBC Nl Nl Nl Clinical manifestation
Category Condition Etiology Decreased platelet production Platelet destruction in blood Platelet destruction in spleen Inherited Acquried Demography History Fever Rash Bleeding BP Splenomegaly Jaundice Other signs Plt HB WBC PBS Bone marrow exam PT PTT UA Gold standard Associated findings
Infection-induced Bacterial infections Sepsis[17] + + - - + Any + -/+ Nl to ↓ - -/+ ↓/↑ Nl ↑↑ +

Depends on the etiology

Clinical manifestation + culture
  • Associated with ↑ mortality
Helicobacter pylori
  • Immune thrombocytopenia
+
Tick-borne infection +
Viral infections HIV
  • An ITP-like condition called primary HIV-associated thrombocytopenia
+ + +
Other viruses such as rubella, mumps, varicella, parvovirus, hepatitis C, & Epstein-Barr virus +
Parasitic infections Malaria
Babesiosis
Category Condition Etiology Decreased platelet production Platelet destruction in blood Platelet destruction in spleen Inherited Acquried Demography History Fever Rash Bleeding BP Splenomegaly Jaundice Other signs Plt HB WBC PBS Bone marrow exam PT PTT UA Gold standard Associated findings
Medication/toxicity Antibiotics/

Antiepileptic[18]

  • Occurrence of drug-dependent, platelet-reactive antibodies
+ + - - + Any
  • Drug ingestion or injection
- - Nl - - - ↓↓ Nl Reduced platelets NA Nl Nl Nl Clinical manifestation + exclusion of the other causes NA
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia[19]
  • Anti-heparin/PF4 antibody 
- + - - + Any
  • Heparin injection
-
  • Necrotic skin lesions
- Nl - - - Nl Nl Reduced platelets NA Nl Nl Nl ELISA
Cytotoxic chemotherapy[20] + - - - + Patients with malignancy
  • Drug ingestion or injection
  • Cancer
- - Nl - - - Reduced platelets Megakaryocytic hypoplasia or aplasia Hematuria Clinical manifestation + exclusion of the other causes
Radiation therapy[21] + - - - + Patients with malignancy - + Nl - - - Reduced platelets Megakaryocytic hypoplasia or aplasia Hematuria Clinical manifestation + exclusion of the other causes
GI Chronic liver disease[22] + - - - + Any - + + + - Nl Reduced platelets NA Nl Biopsy
Portal hypertension[23] + - - - + Any - + + + - Nl Reduced platelets NA Nl Clinical manifestation
Category Condition Etiology Decreased platelet production Platelet destruction in blood Platelet destruction in spleen Inherited Acquried Demography History Fever Rash Bleeding BP Splenomegaly Jaundice Other signs Plt HB WBC PBS Bone marrow exam PT PTT UA Gold standard Associated findings
Vascular Giant capillary hemangioma (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome)[24][25] + + Infants Intralesional bleeding Nl Visceral hemangiomas ↓↓ ↓↓ Nl Normocytic normochromic erythrocytes and markedly reduced platelets Normal erythropoiesis, myelopoiesis, and megakaryocytic hyperplasia Hematuria Biopsy
  • Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma
  • Tufted angioma
Cardiopulmonary bypass[26] + + Elderly + Nl or ↑ - - - Nl Normocytic normochromic erythrocytes and markedly reduced platelets NA Hematuria Clinical manifestation
Other Alcohol[27] + + + Any - Nl + + Cytopenia, macrocytosis Cytopenia, macrocytosis Nl Clinical manifestation
Post-transfusion purpura[28][29] + + Women + ↓↓↓ Nl Nl NA Nl Nl Nl Positive circulating alloantibody to a common platelet antigen
  • Severe but rare reaction
Gestational thrombocytopenia[30]
  • Might be physiologic adaptation of pregnancy
+ Pregnant women
  • Positive history of mild thrombocytopenia
Nl Nl Nl Nl NA Nl Nl Nl Diagnosis of exclusion
  • Self-limited condition
HELLP syndrome[31][32]
  • Unknown
+ + Pregnant > 25 years + + Nl Schistocytes NA Nl Nl Proteinuria Lab abnormalities
Idiopathic cyclic thrombocytopenia[33] + + - - + Females with the median age of onset 35 years
  • Misdiagnosed as ITP with uniformly poor responses
- Minor mucocutaneous bleeding Nl - - - Nl Nl Reduced platelets and megakaryocytes Megakaryocytic hypoplasia or aplasia Nl Nl Nl Diagnosis of exclusion
Pseudothrombocytopenia[34] - - - - + Rare Collected sample in EDTA anticoagulant - - - Nl - - - Nl Nl Low platelet count and platelet clumps Low platelet count and platelet clumps Nl Nl Nl Repeat collecting sample in a heparin tube Nl
Category Condition Etiology Decreased platelet production Platelet destruction in blood Platelet destruction in spleen Inherited Acquried Demography History Fever Rash Bleeding BP Splenomegaly Jaundice Other signs Plt HB WBC PBS Bone marrow exam PT PTT UA Gold standard Associated findings

References

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  34. Tan, Geok Chin; Stalling, Melissa; Dennis, Gretchen; Nunez, Maria; Kahwash, Samir B. (2016). "Pseudothrombocytopenia due to Platelet Clumping: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature". Case Reports in Hematology. 2016: 1–4. doi:10.1155/2016/3036476. ISSN 2090-6560.