Recommended Citation
Abdel Rahman ZH, Miller KC, Jabbour H, Alkhatib Y, and Donthireddy V. Outcomes of patients with thrombocytopenia evaluated at hematology subspecialty clinics. Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther 2021.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-11-2021
Publication Title
Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Thrombocytopenia is a frequently encountered laboratory abnormality and a common reason for hematology referrals. Workup for thrombocytopenia is not standardized and frequently does not follow an evidence-based algorithm. We conducted a systematic analysis to evaluate the laboratory testing and outcomes of patients evaluated for thrombocytopenia at hematology clinics in a tertiary referral center between 2013 and 2016.
PATIENT AND METHODS: We performed a comprehensive chart review for patients evaluated for thrombocytopenia during the study period. Patients were followed for 1 year from the initial hematology evaluation and assessed for the development of a hematologic malignancy, rheumatologic, or infectious diseases among other clinical outcomes.
RESULTS: We evaluated 472 patients with a median (range) age of 61 (17-94) years. The majority (63.8%) had mild thrombocytopenia. Within 1 year of follow-up, 14 patients (3.0%) were diagnosed with a hematologic malignancy. A higher likelihood of developing a hematologic malignancy was noted in patients with concurrent leukopenia (hazard ratio [HR] 9.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.28-30.32, p < .01) and increasing age (HR per 10-year deciles 1.52, 95% CI 1.03-2.25, p = .03). In patients with asymptomatic isolated mild thrombocytopenia, laboratory testing did not reveal any significant positive findings and patients did not receive any new major diagnosis during the follow-up period.
CONCLUSION: Our findings provide basis and call for development of an evidence-based algorithmic approach for evaluation of patients with thrombocytopenia, testing, and referrals. It also supports a conservative approach mainly driven by physical exam signs, symptoms, and other laboratory findings for patients with isolated mild thrombocytopenia.
PubMed ID
33607100
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
Comments
doi.org/10.1016/j.hemonc.2021.01.002