Thrombocytopenia in neonates
Download
Report
Transcript Thrombocytopenia in neonates
Thrombocytopenia in
neonates
Adapted from a presentation by
Bronwyn Waddell, MS 4
NICU Sub-internship
9-17-04
Definition
Thrombocytopenia < 150,000/µL (150 x
109/L)
– Rare in general population (<1%); 22% in NICU
– Many healthy newborns b/w 100,000 150,000/µL.
– Average platelet counts lower in preterm infants
• Reflects increase during gestation, from 187,000 to
274,000/µL at 15 and 40 weeks
– Severe reductions (<50,000/µL) and/or persistent
thrombocytopenia can result in bleeding.
– Severe and/or persistent thrombocytopenia
requires evaluation, even in an asymptomatic
infant.
Evaluation of the
thrombocytopenic neonate
Based on recognizing typical patterns
– 1) Immune
– 2) Infectious
– 3) Genetic
– 4) Drug-induced
– 5) Disseminated intravascular coagulation
– 6) Placental insufficiency
– 7) Miscellaneous
Algorithm in Evaluation
Does thrombocytopenia fit pattern of
pathophysiologic process? (Table 1)
– Proceed to confirmatory testing
Further evaluation is indicated if
– It does not fit one of these patterns
– The dx is not confirmed by appropriate
testing
– It is more severe/prolonged than fits dx
– It does not respond to appropriate tx
Category Subtype
Severity
Onset
Resolution Mechanism
Immune
Alloimmune
Autoimmune
Severe
Moderate
Early
Early
Days - wks Incr.
Wks - mos consumption
Infection
Bacterial
Viral
Fungal
Variable
Variable
Severe
Variable
Early
Late
1-7 days
Variable
2-7 days
Chromosomal
Bone marrow
failures
Familial TCP
Moderate
Severe
Early
Early
Days - wks Decreased
Variable
production
Mild-mod
Early
Never
Drugs
Modsevere
Late
8 days
(med)
Variable
DIC
Severe
Variable
Variable
Inc consump
PIH/
IUGR
Mild-mod
Early
7-10 days
Dec prodxn
NEC
Mod-sev
Late
7-10 days
Inc consump
Genetic
disorder
Mixed
Evaluation in early thrombocytopenia:
Mild to Moderate
Neonate with early thrombocytopenia (<72
hrs)
– First distinguish b/w mild-mod and severe
• Mild (100-150 x 109/L) or moderate (50-100 x
109/L).
• PIH and IUGR are common causes of early
thrombocytopenia among premature infants
• Generally, resolves spontaneously by day 7-10
of life
• Other labs include PT, PTT, D-dimers, cx
Evaluation in early severe
thrombocytopenia
Severe/prolonged should trigger evaluation
for other disease processes
– Well-appearing infant: most common cause in
immediate post-natal period is immune
thrombocytopenia from anti-plt Ab across placenta
– Ill-appearing infant: consider other causes
• Sepsis, DIC (freq post severe perinatal asphyxia)
• Viral infections and congenital toxoplasmosis
If tests fail to confirm dx, base further w/u on
PE, response to plt transfusion, and
mechanistic eval
Physical Examination
Dysmorphic features suggestive of
chromosomal disorders provide dx clues:
– Trisomy 21, 13, 18, Turner, Noonan
syndrome, DiGeorge/velocardiofacial
syndrome
– HSM, abd masses (renal v thrombosis),
forearm/thumb abnormalities
(TAR/Fanconi’s)
– Decreased pronation/supination of forearm
(congenital amegakaryocytic TCP
w/proximal radial-ulnar synostosis)
Increased destruction
Immune thrombocytopenia (0.3%)
– Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT)
• Mom forms IgG class antiplatelet Ab against the "foreign" antigen
(dad’s)
• Clinical features: mom asx, baby may have petechiae,
ecchymosis
• Labs: plts (often < 10,000/µL), antigen testing of parents’ plts,
mother's serum for antiplatelet alloantibody
• Management: well, term infants transfused if plt <20,000/µL or
if bld
– Transfusion threshold higher (<50,000/µL) in preterm/term infants
who are ill or have risk factors.
• Initial evaluation: head CT to r/o hemorrhage (10-20%)
• Adequate plt counts maintained during 1st 72-96 hrs (highest
bld risk)
• Tx with high-dose intravenous gamma-globulin (IVIG) may be
effective
Increased Destruction:
Immune Thrombocytopenia
Autoimmune thrombocytopenia:
– Mediated by maternal Ab that react with maternal and infant
platelets.
– Occurs in maternal autoimmune disorders, including ITP and SLE
– Dx apparent from mother's PMH and maternal thrombocytopenia
– Mothers of infants with unexplained neonatal thrombocytopenia
autoimmune disorder?
– Healthy women w/o hx of autoimmune d/o sometimes develop
gestational thrombocytopenia that usually is mild, transient, and
benign.
Clinical features: Petechiae, bruising, and bleeding.
– 90% infants have moderately severe thrombocytopenia in range of 20,000 to
50,000/µL
– Risk in infant correlates with severity of ITP in the mother:
• Mother s/p splenectomy, plts < 50 in preg, or older sibling w/neonatal
affects
– Plts decrease sharply during the several days after birth; nadir at 2-5 days
Management: transfusion, IVIG, or prednisone for severe TCP or clinical
bleeding
– Plt trx may not be as effective as in NAIT: autoAb usually react w/donor
Drug related
thrombocytopenia
Drug-related thrombocytopenia:
– Mechanism is accelerated plt destruction caused by drugdependent Abs.
– BM suppression may occur post chemo to mom or newborn
infant
– Maternal thrombocytopenia post drug exposure mediated by
IgG
Infant's platelet count should be monitored if exposed to
quinidine, penicillins, digoxin, and antiepileptic drugs;
indomethacin, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia less common
Management — If drug-associated thrombocytopenia is
suspected, the offending agent should be withdrawn.
– Transfusions should be given for low platelet counts
(<20,000/µL) or for bleeding.
– If an immune-mediated condition is suspected, IVIG can be
used while awaiting confirmation.
Peripheral Consumption
Hypersplenism: thrombocytopenia may be associated with an
enlarged spleen.
– Underlying disorders: hemolytic anemia, congenital hepatitis,
congenital viral infection, and portal vein thrombosis
– Management: Dx and tx of underlying cause.
• Plt transfusions PRN. Splenectomy if bleeding uncontrollable.
Kasabach-Merritt: DIC, hemangiomas (kaposiform
hemangioendotheliomas)
– shortened platelet survival caused by sequestration of plts in AVM.
– Lesions noted at birth in approximately 50 % of patients
• Trunk (including retroperitoneum), arms and shoulder, lower
extremity, and cervicofacial
– Severe thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, elevated fibrin
degradation products, and fragmentation of red blood cells
– Management: resolution of hemangioma, support hemostasis w/trx
– Tx: prednisone, interferon alpha, surgery, embolization, vincristine,
cyclophosphamide, actinomycin D
Peripheral Consumption
Disseminated intravascular coagulationthrombosis and hemorrhage.
– Complication of underlying illness, typically sepsis, asphyxia, MAS, severe
RDS.
– Dx suggested by associated illness, clinical presentation, and presence of
microangiopathic changes on the peripheral blood smear.
– Confirming labs: prolonged PT and PTT, decreased fibrinogen, increased
D-dimer
– Tx: directed at the underlying cause of DIC: platelets and FFP to maintain
plt >50,000/µL and PT time within physiologic range. Fibrinogen
concentration is maintained >100 mg/dL with infusion of cryoprecipitate.
Infection: bacterial, viral, and fungal organisms.
– Bacterial mechanisms for thrombocytopenia include DIC, endothelial
damage, antibody-mediated, and platelet aggregation caused by adherence
of bacterial products to platelet membranes.
• Decreased plt production due to injury to megakaryocytes in BM also
possible
– Viral: congenital rubella and cytomegalovirus.
• Mechanisms include platelet aggregation, loss of sialic acid from the platelet
membrane caused by viral neuraminidase, and megakaryocyte degeneration.
• Splenomegaly and reticuloendothelial hyperactivity may play a role.
Management: tx underlying infection, platelet transfusions if associated
bld
Peripheral Consumption
Necrotizing enterocolitis: GI necrosis in 2-10% of infants <1500 g.
– thrombocytopenia from platelet destruction
– In early stages, declining plts correlate with necrotic bowel and
worsening disease.
– Levels of cytokines, including platelet activating factor (PAF), are
increased in premature infants with NEC and correlate w/ disease
severity
– Intestinal damage and inflammatory cell recruitment result from a
cascade of cellular events that may be mediated at least in part by
PAF
Thrombosis: low plts often accompanies thrombosis in newborns.
– Patients should be evaluated for a thromboembolic disorder if
thrombocytopenia cannot be explained by other conditions.
Decreased platelet production
Often associated with genetic disorders: result in isolated
thrombocytopenia or syndrome
Thrombocytopenia-absent radius syndrome: severe
thrombocytopenia and bilateral absent radii; thumbs are always
present
– Also hypoplasia or absence of the ulna, or abnormal or absent
humerus.
– Congenital heart disease, usually ASD or TOF, occurs in 1/3 of pts
– plt <10,000 - 30,000/µL at birth-1st postnatal week in 59 %
– Mortality is significant in neonate and early infancy, primarily due to
ICH.
• If pt survives this period, spontaneous resolution usually occurs after 1st
year
– Tx: supportive with platelet transfusions given when needed.
Fanconi anemia: thrombocytopenia from FA is rare in the
neonatal period.
– Pancytopenia typically diagnosed at six to nine years old
– Condition recognized in newborn by characteristic congenital
malformations in 60-70%:
• Hypopigmented spots, abnormality of thumbs, microcephaly, café-au-lait
spots, and urogenital abnormalities; short stature of prenatal onset
Our DNCC Guidelines for
platelet transfusion
Transfuse 10-15 mL/kg leukoreduced,
irradiated platelets over 0.5-1 hour for:
–
–
–
–
Infants w/o signs of acute bld, but plt <20,000
Infant w/hemorrhage and plt <50,000
Consider w/bld and plt <100,000, esp ICH risk
Consider trx at predetermined value (20-100)
depending on infant’s status (d/w attending)
Transfusion precautions
Neonates should receive 10-15 ml/kg of
CMV-safe (CMV Ab-) or leukoreduced
plts
– Increases count by >50 x 109
Neonates are at increased risk for
transfusion-associated GVHD
– Irradiated bld products for
immunodeficiency, intrauterine or
exchange transfusions, or blood trx from
relative or HLA-selected donor
Conclusion: Neonatal
Thrombocytopenia
Common in NICU (sick and premature)
Differentiate and tx based on severity
Recognition of etiology based on typical
patterns associated with specific
pathophysiologic processes
Work up and treat per algorithm and
current clinical guidelines
– Pursue immune etiology in infant
w/persistent thrombocytopenia
Sources/References
Sola M. Evaluation and treatment of severe and prolonged
thrombocytopenia in neonates. Clin Perinatol; 2004:31(1)
Saxonhouse M, Sola M. Platelet function in term and preterm
neonates. Clin Perinatol 2004;31(1)
Andrew et al. A randomized, controlled trial of platelet
transfusions in thrombocytopenic premature infants. J Pediatr
1993;123:285-91.
Murray NA. Evaluation and treatment of thrombocytopenia in the
neonatal intensive care unit. Acta Paediatr Suppl 2002;91:74-81.
Sola, MC, Del Vecchio, A, Rimsza, LM. Evaluation and
treatment of thrombocytopenia in the neonatal intensive care
unit. Clin Perinatol 2000; 27:655.
Jones, KL. Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human
Malformations, 5th ed. WB Saunders, Philadelphia 1997
Tomer et al. Autologous platelet kinetics in patients with severe
thrombocytopenia. J Lab Clin Med 1991;118:546-54.
UpToDate Version 12.1: search term neonatal thrombocytopenia