🩸 Thrombocytopenia Differential
Severity and bleeding risk, mechanistic classification, workup cues and emergencies (TTP/HIT/DIC) for a low platelet count. Browser-side reference.
Thrombocytopenia Differential
View
When to use
Triage thrombocytopenia after excluding a spurious result, localising the mechanism and flagging emergencies.
How it works
Severity (×10⁹/L): mild 100–150, moderate 50–100, severe 20–50, very severe < 10–20.
Key points
- Exclude spurious (EDTA) thrombocytopenia with a citrate recheck and smear.
- Schistocytes + haemolysis suggest a thrombotic microangiopathy.
- HIT: calculate the 4Ts; stop heparin and switch anticoagulant.
- Platelet transfusion may be harmful in TTP/HIT unless life-threatening bleeding.
References
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.