ABSTRACT
Chapter Overview This chapter covers the range o f patients with either quantitative or qualitative
platelet defects. More common disorders are emphasized: simple thrombocyto penia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, the uremic patient, and the patient on an antiplatelet agent. For rare disorders, such as Bernard-Soulier disease or Glanzmann syndrome, please refer to a hematology text. Platelets are a relatively scarce commodity in any Blood Bank, and your decision to transfuse should include consideration o f the impact on the rest o f the hospital as well as your own patients needs. Blood Banks generally have plenty o f FFP and cryoprecipitate, and a fair supply o f RBCs. Platelets ? They often have just enough to get by. The reasons for this have to do with the short shelf life o f platelets and continual turnover o f inventory. Thus, an indiscriminant platelet transfusion by your colleague might mean that your Blood Bank runs short as you’re admitting a patient with leukemia and a platelet count o f 9,000/pL. Please be judicious.
