ABSTRACT
Acquired Bleeding Disorders The most common bleeding disorders in older patients are acquired bleeding
disorders. The most frequent, immune thrombocytopenia, liver and renal disease, and DIC, are discussed in other chapters. This chapter reviews other causes of ac quired bleeding disorders
Thrombocytopenia Thrombocytopenia is a relatively common finding in hospitalized patients. For
example, thrombocytopenia is very common in the critical care population, with platelet counts below 100,000/pL found in 25-38% of such patients. Finding the etiology is frustrating, as multiple factors may be producing the thrombocytopenia. A rational approach is to consider the differential from a mechanistic point o f view. Thus defects in platelet production, increased platelet sequestration, or increased platelet destruction (immune or non-immune) can lead to thrombocytopenia.
