Seminars in thrombosis and hemostasis
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Semin. Thromb. Hemost. · Mar 2013
ReviewEvaluation of patients with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia.
When a patient presents with unexpected microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, the diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is often considered. However, many different disorders, including many different systemic infections and malignancies, can cause thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), with the clinical features of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. ⋯ This article focuses on distinguishing TTP from other etiologies of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, because consideration of the diagnosis of TTP requires an urgent decision for the initiation of plasma exchange treatment. Awareness of the many etiologies of TMA is essential for the appropriate evaluation of patients presenting with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia and the appropriate diagnosis of TTP.
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Semin. Thromb. Hemost. · Mar 2013
The approach to patients with bleeding disorders who do not accept blood-derived products.
Despite the widespread use of allogeneic blood components in clinical practice, there are patients in whom transfusion cannot be carried out for various reasons, including refusal of transfusions because of religious beliefs. The refusal of transfusion is not equivalent to refusal of medical treatment, and numerous options are available to effectively manage care without transfusions. ⋯ The strategies involve obtaining advance directive and consent to determine what components and procedures are acceptable to the patient; preoptimizing the patient for early correction of treatable deficiencies (e.g., anemia, coagulopathy); minimizing blood loss (e.g., hemostatic agents, blood salvage); and improving physiologic responses to anemia. Using these approaches, it is possible to effectively manage patients, with outcomes comparable to patients who accept transfusions.