postgrad med j 1987 awerbuch 781 3

4
8/19/2019 Postgrad Med J 1987 Awerbuch 781 3 http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/postgrad-med-j-1987-awerbuch-781-3 1/4 Postgraduate Medical Journal (1987) 63, 781-783 Intracranial haemorrhage in a 26 year-old woman with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura Gavin Awerbuch and Reuven Sandyk Department of Neurology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ. 85724, USA. Summary: Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH), a rare complication of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), described onlyonce previously in an adult, is usually fatal. We report a previously healthy 26 year old woman with chronic ITP in whom spontaneous ICH developed. The eventual favourable outcome in this case despite severe initial neurological deficit makes this case unusual. The importance of aggressive management in an ITP associated ICH is stressed and a plan for management is suggested. Introduction Although relatively rare, intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is the most serious complication of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and is the leading reported cause of death. `3 In children, nearly 20 cases of acute ITP complicated by ICH have been reported. Previous reports have alluded to ICH associated with ITP in adults,4`7 but ICH has been documented only once in adults.8 We report the occurrence of an intracerebral haemorrhage in a previous healthy adult with chronic ITP. The occurrence of ICH in ITP, the location of the haemorrhage and the favourable neurological outcome in this patient makes this case unusual. Further, a plan of management is suggested based on our experiences and review of previous publications. Case report  26 year old black female presented with a 4-week history of bleeding gums, tarry stools, and easy bruising. No history of recent infections, myalgias, arthralgias, rash, fever, chills, photophobia or sys- temic lupus erythromatosus was obtained. She had not been taking any medications that could precipitate ITP. Four months prior to admission the patient delivered a normalmale infant. There wasno history of blood transfusion or thrombocytopenia at that time. Examination revealed an acutely ill patient, who was afebrile with a blood pressure of 100/60 mmHg. There was diffuse purpura, ecchymosis and gum bleeding, but no rash. There were no retinal haemorr- hages, splenomegaly or lymphadenopathy. Laboratory investigations revealed a haemoglobin of 5.7 g/dl, white blood count of 15.5 x I09/l with a normal differential and a platelet count of 6.0 x 109/l, reticulocyte count was 3.2 . The prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, fibrin- ogen, fibrin monomers, and fibrin split products were all normal. An electroencephalogram (EEG), gallium scan of the abdomen, chest X-ray, and computerized axial tomography (CT scan) of the head were normal. The bone marrow aspirate and biopsy showed increased megakaryocytes consistent with peripheral platelet destruction, but no other abnormality. Platelet antibody levels were not performed because of the profound thrombocytopenia. The work up for the aetiology of her thrombocytopenia including autoim- mune and microbiological serology was completely negative and a diagnosis of acute ITPwas made. Considering the severity of the case and potential for a fatal outcome, therapy was initiated with 15units of random donor platelets, 10 units of single donor platelets, and 2 units of packed red blood cell trans- fusions over the first 24 hours. Thrombocytopenia and mucosal bleeding continued and treatment was started with intravenous hydrocortisone, 150 mg every 6 hours, intravenous gammaglobulin, 30 g/day, and a single dose of vincristine, 2 mg intravenously. The patient did not respond to this therapy, attaining a maximum platelet count of 10 x I09/l during the first 6 days of hospitalization and was requiring up to 15 units of platelets daily. On hospital day 6, the patient developed a sudden onset of headache associated with confusion and disorientation. Neurological examina- tion revealed normal fundi, and there were no focal neurological deficits. New subconjunctival haemorr- hages were present. The platelet count was 2 x I09/l.  clinical diagnosis of ICH was made. CT scan of the head showed bilateral basal ganglia haemorrhages ©) The Fellowship of PostgraduateMedicine, 1987 Correspondence: Gavin Awerbuch M.D. Accepted: 18 March 1987 group.bmj.com on August 23, 2015 - Published by http://pmj.bmj.com/ Downloaded from 

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Page 1: Postgrad Med J 1987 Awerbuch 781 3

8/19/2019 Postgrad Med J 1987 Awerbuch 781 3

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/postgrad-med-j-1987-awerbuch-781-3 1/4

P o s t g r a d u a t e

M e d i c a l

J o u r n a l

( 1 9 8 7 )

6 3 , 7 8 1 - 7 8 3

I n t r a c r a n i a l h a e m o r r h a g e

i n

a

2 6

y e a r - o l d woman

w i t h

i d i o p a t h i c t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r p u r a

G a v i n

A w e r b u c h

a n d

R e u v e n

S a n d y k

D e p a r t m e n t o f

N e u r o l o g y ,

U n i v e r s i t y

o f A r i z o n a H e a l t h S c i e n c e s C e n t e r , T u c s o n ,

A Z .

8 5 7 2 4 ,

U S A .

S u m m a r y :

I n t r a c r a n i a l

h a e m o r r h a g e

( I C H ) , a r a r e

c o m p l i c a t i o n

o f

i d i o p a t h i c t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r p u r a ( I T P ) , d e s c r i b e d o n l y o n c e

p r e v i o u s l y

i n

a n

a d u l t ,

i s

u s u a l l y f a t a l . We r e p o r t a p r e v i o u s l y h e a l t h y

2 6

y e a r o l d

woman w i t h

c h r o n i c

I T P

i n whom s p o n t a n e o u s

ICH d e v e l o p e d .

T h e

e v e n t u a l f a v o u r a b l e

o u t c o m e i n t h i s

c a s e

d e s p i t e s e v e r e

i n i t i a l n e u r o l o g i c a l

d e f i c i t m a k e s

t h i s c a s e

u n u s u a l . T h e i m p o r t a n c e o f

a g g r e s s i v e m a n a g e m e n t

i n a n

ITP

a s s o c i a t e d

ICH i s

s t r e s s e d a n d a p l a n f o r m a n a g e m e n t

i s

s u g g e s t e d .

I n t r o d u c t i o n

A l t h o u g h r e l a t i v e l y

r a r e , i n t r a c r a n i a l

h a e m o r r h a g e

( I C H ) i s

t h e m o s t

s e r i o u s c o m p l i c a t i o n o f

i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r p u r a

( I T P ) a n d

i s t h e

l e a d i n g

r e p o r t e d

c a u s e o f

d e a t h . ` 3

I n

c h i l d r e n ,

n e a r l y 2 0

c a s e s

o f

a c u t e

I T P

c o m p l i c a t e d

b y

ICH h a v e

b e e n

r e p o r t e d .

P r e v i o u s

r e p o r t s

h a v e a l l u d e d

t o

ICH

a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h

I T P

i n a d u l t s , 4 ` 7 b u t

ICH h a s b e e n

d o c u m e n t e d

o n l y

o n c e

i n

a d u l t s . 8 We

r e p o r t

t h e

o c c u r r e n c e

o f a n

i n t r a c e r e b r a l

h a e m o r r h a g e

i n

a p r e v i o u s h e a l t h y a d u l t

w i t h

c h r o n i c I T P . T h e

o c c u r r e n c e

o f

ICH

i n I T P ,

t h e

l o c a t i o n

o f

t h e

h a e m o r r h a g e a n d

t h e

f a v o u r a b l e

n e u r o l o g i c a l

o u t c o m e

i n

t h i s

p a t i e n t

m a k e s

t h i s

c a s e

u n u s u a l .

F u r t h e r ,

a

p l a n

o f

m a n a g e m e n t

i s

s u g g e s t e d

b a s e d

o n

o u r e x p e r i e n c e s

a n d

r e v i e w

o f

p r e v i o u s

p u b l i c a t i o n s .

C a s e

r e p o r t

 

2 6 y e a r

o l d

b l a c k

f e m a l e

p r e s e n t e d w i t h a 4 - w e e k

h i s t o r y o f

b l e e d i n g

g u m s ,

t a r r y

s t o o l s , a n d

e a s y

b r u i s i n g . No

h i s t o r y o f r e c e n t

i n f e c t i o n s ,

m y a l g i a s ,

a r t h r a l g i a s ,

r a s h ,

f e v e r , c h i l l s ,

p h o t o p h o b i a

o r

s y s -

t e m i c

l u p u s

e r y t h r o m a t o s u s

w a s o b t a i n e d .

S h e h a d

n o t

b e e n

t a k i n g

a n y m e d i c a t i o n s

t h a t

c o u l d

p r e c i p i t a t e

I T P .

F o u r

m o n t h s

p r i o r

t o

a d m i s s i o n

t h e

p a t i e n t

d e l i v e r e d a n o r m a l m a l e

i n f a n t . T h e r e

w a s n o

h i s t o r y

o f

b l o o d t r a n s f u s i o n

o r

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i a

a t t h a t t i m e .

E x a m i n a t i o n

r e v e a l e d

a n

a c u t e l y i l l

p a t i e n t , who

w a s

a f e b r i l e w i t h a b l o o d

p r e s s u r e o f

1 0 0 / 6 0

mmHg.

T h e r e

w a s d i f f u s e

p u r p u r a ,

e c c h y m o s i s

a n d gum

b l e e d i n g ,

b u t

n o r a s h .

T h e r e

w e r e n o

r e t i n a l h a e m o r r -

h a g e s ,

s p l e n o m e g a l y

o r l y m p h a d e n o p a t h y .

L a b o r a t o r y

i n v e s t i g a t i o n s

r e v e a l e d a

h a e m o g l o b i n

o f 5 . 7

g / d l , w h i t e

b l o o d c o u n t

o f 1 5 . 5

x I 0 9 / l w i t h

a

n o r m a l

d i f f e r e n t i a l

a n d a

p l a t e l e t

c o u n t

o f 6 . 0

x

1 0 9 / l ,

r e t i c u l o c y t e

c o u n t

w a s

3 . 2 .

T h e p r o t h r o m b i n

t i m e ,

p a r t i a l

t h r o m b o p l a s t i n

t i m e ,

t h r o m b i n

t i m e ,

f i b r i n -

o g e n , f i b r i n

m o n o m e r s ,

a n d f i b r i n s p l i t

p r o d u c t s

w e r e

a l l

n o r m a l .

An e l e c t r o e n c e p h a l o g r a m

( E E G ) ,

g a l l i u m

s c a n

o f t h e a b d o m e n ,

c h e s t

X - r a y ,

a n d

c o m p u t e r i z e d

a x i a l t o m o g r a p h y

( C T

s c a n ) o f t h e

h e a d w e r e

n o r m a l .

T h e b o n e

m a r r o w

a s p i r a t e

a n d

b i o p s y

s h o w e d

i n c r e a s e d

m e g a k a r y o c y t e s

c o n s i s t e n t

w i t h

p e r i p h e r a l

p l a t e l e t

d e s t r u c t i o n ,

b u t

n o

o t h e r

a b n o r m a l i t y .

P l a t e l e t

a n t i b o d y l e v e l s

w e r e

n o t p e r f o r m e d

b e c a u s e

o f

t h e

p r o f o u n d

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i a .

T h e

w o r k u p

f o r

t h e

a e t i o l o g y

o f h e r

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i a

i n c l u d i n g

a u t o i m -

mune

a n d

m i c r o b i o l o g i c a l

s e r o l o g y

w a s

c o m p l e t e l y

n e g a t i v e

a n d

a d i a g n o s i s

o f

a c u t e

I T P w a s

m a d e .

C o n s i d e r i n g

t h e s e v e r i t y o f t h e

c a s e a n d p o t e n t i a l

f o r

a

f a t a l o u t c o m e ,

t h e r a p y

w a s i n i t i a t e d w i t h 1 5 u n i t s

o f

r a n d o m

d o n o r

p l a t e l e t s , 1 0 u n i t s

o f

s i n g l e d o n o r

p l a t e l e t s ,

a n d

2

u n i t s

o f p a c k e d

r e d

b l o o d

c e l l

t r a n s -

f u s i o n s o v e r

t h e f i r s t

2 4 h o u r s . T h r o m b o c y t o p e n i a

a n d

m u c o s a l

b l e e d i n g

c o n t i n u e d

a n d t r e a t m e n t

w a s

s t a r t e d

w i t h

i n t r a v e n o u s h y d r o c o r t i s o n e ,

1 5 0 mg e v e r y

6

h o u r s ,

i n t r a v e n o u s

g a m m a g l o b u l i n ,

3 0

g / d a y ,

a n d

a

s i n g l e

d o s e o f v i n c r i s t i n e ,

2

mg

i n t r a v e n o u s l y .

T h e

p a t i e n t

d i d

n o t

r e s p o n d

t o t h i s

t h e r a p y ,

a t t a i n i n g

a

maximum

p l a t e l e t

c o u n t o f

1 0 x

I 0 9 / l

d u r i n g

t h e f i r s t

6

d a y s

o f

h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n

a n d

w a s

r e q u i r i n g

u p

t o

1 5

u n i t s

o f

p l a t e l e t s

d a i l y .

On

h o s p i t a l

d a y

6 ,

t h e p a t i e n t

d e v e l o p e d

a s u d d e n

o n s e t o f

h e a d a c h e

a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h

c o n f u s i o n

a n d d i s o r i e n t a t i o n .

N e u r o l o g i c a l

e x a m i n a -

t i o n

r e v e a l e d

n o r m a l f u n d i ,

a n d

t h e r e

w e r e

n o f o c a l

n e u r o l o g i c a l

d e f i c i t s .

New

s u b c o n j u n c t i v a l

h a e m o r r -

h a g e s

w e r e p r e s e n t .

T h e p l a t e l e t

c o u n t w a s

2

x

I 0 9 / l .

 

c l i n i c a l d i a g n o s i s

o f ICH

w a s

m a d e . CT

s c a n

o f

t h e

h e a d

s h o w e d

b i l a t e r a l

b a s a l g a n g l i a

h a e m o r r h a g e s

© )

T h e

F e l l o w s h i p

o f

P o s t g r a d u a t e M e d i c i n e ,

1 9 8 7

C o r r e s p o n d e n c e :

G a v i n

A w e r b u c h M . D .

A c c e p t e d : 1 8

M a r c h 1 9 8 7

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7 8 2

CLINICAL

REPORTS

( F i g u r e

1 ) . T r e a t m e n t w a s s t a r t e d

w i t h

i n t r a v e n o u s

d e x a m e t h a s o n e

10mg e v e r y

6

h o u r s

a n d

20 m a n -

n i t o l

 

m g / k g

t o r e d u c e

c e r e b r a l

o e d e m a a n d

i n t r a c r a n i a l p r e s s u r e .

T h e

p a t i e n t

w a s

t r a n s f u s e d

w i t h

2 0

u n i t s

o f

p l a t e l e t s ,

t w o

u n i t s

o f

p a c k e d r e d b l o o d

c e l l s

a n d

u n d e r w e n t

e m e r g e n c y

s p l e n e c t o m y .

P o s t - o p e r a t i v e

t r e a t m e n t

c o n t i n u e d w i t h

d e x a m e t h a s o n e ,

1 0

mg e v e r y 6

h o u r s ,

p l a t e l e t

t r a n s f u s i o n s , 5 - 1 0

u n i t s

e v e r y 2 4

h o u r s ,

a n d

i n t r a v e n o u s

g a m m a g l o b u l i n ,

4 0 0

m g / k g / d a y .

O n e d a y

a f t e r

s u r g e r y ,

t h e

p a t i e n t

d e v e l o p e d a

r i g h t

s i d e d f o c a l

s e i z u r e

i n v o l v i n g

t h e

h e a d a n d

a r m w h i c h

l a s t e d

a b o u t

5

m i n u t e s .   s e c o n d

EEG

s h o w e d a

g e n e r a l i z e d

d y s r h y t h m i a ,

d e l t a g r a d e

I I

a c t i v i t y .  

r e p e a t CT

s c a n

s h o w e d n o

c h a n g e .

S h e

w a s

t r e a t e d

w i t h p h e n y t o i n

3 0 0

m g / d a y

i n t r a v e n o u s l y

a n d n o

f u r t h e r

s e i z u r e s

o c c u r r e d . A t

t h i s

p o i n t , t h e p a t i e n t

w a s

s e m i - c o m a t o s e

a n d o v e r t h e

n e x t

w e e k

r e m a i n e d

i n

t h i s

s t a t e .

H o w e v e r ,

d u r i n g t h i s

p e ri o d h e r

p l a t e l e t

c o u n t s

b e g a n

t o

r i s e .

T h e

d e x a m e t h a s o n e a n d

g a m m a g l o b u l i n

w e r e

s l o w l y t a p e r e d

o v e r

t h e

n e x t

2

w e e k s

a n d

e v e n t u a l l y

d i s c o n t i n u e d

a n d

n o

f u r t h e r

b l e e d i n g

e p i s o d e s

o c c u r r e d . W i t h

i m p r o v e m e n t o f

h e r

p l a t e l e t

c o u n t s ,

w h i c h

r o s e t o 7 5 x

1 0 9 / l , t h e n e u r o l o g i c a l

s t a t u s

i m p r o v e d .

T h r e e

w e e k s

p o s t - o p e r a t i v e l y

h e r

p l a t e l e t

c o u n t

r e a c h e d

1 5 0

x

1 0 9 / l a n d

6

w e e k s a f t e r

a d m i s s i o n

4 5 0

x

1 0 9 / l . F o l l o w - u p

h a s

c o n t i n u e d f o r

o n e

y e a r a n d

t h e

p l a t e l e t c o u n t s

a n d n e u r o l o g i c a l

e x a m i n a t i o n h a v e

r e m a i n e d n o r m a l

w i t h o u t a n y

b l e e d i n g

e p i s o d e s .

D i s c u s s i o n

T h e m o s t

s e r i o u s

a n d l i f e

t h r e a t e n i n g c o m p l i c a t i o n o f

I T P

i s

I C H . 9 3

F o r t u n a t e l y ICH i s r a r e i n

I T P

a n d

p r o b a b l y

o c c u r s

i n

l e s s

t h a n

1

o f

a l l

c a s e s

o f

I T P . Z 3

 

I t

d o e s

h o w e v e r , a c c o u n t

f o r

30-100 o f

f a t a l i t i e s

i n

r e p o r t e d

s e r i e s . 2 4 5 2

T h e h a e m o r r h a g e s

a r e

u s u a l l y

f o u n d

i n

t h e

s u b a r a c h n o i d

a r e a s a n d

o f t e n

t h e y

a r e

m u l t i p l e ,

v a r y i n g

i n s i z e

f r o m a

s i n g l e p e t e c h i a e

t o

l a r g e e x t r a v a s a t i o n s o f

b l o o d . 3

P o s t e r i o r

f o s s a

h a e m o r r h a g e s a r e

e s p e c i a l l y

d a n g e r o u s

d u e t o

t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y

o f

r a p i d

c e r e b e l l a r

h e r n i a t i o n

a n d

b r a i n -

s t e m

c o m p r e s s i o n .

R e t i n a l

h a e m o r r h a g e s o f t e n

o c c u r

a t

t h e

t i m e

o f

t h e

I C H . 9

F a c t o r s

p r e d i s p o s i n g

t o

d e v e l o p m e n t o f

ICH

a r e

n o t

w e l l

u n d e r s t o o d .

A l t h o u g h

t r a u m a

h a s

a c c o u n t e d

f o r

s o m e

c a s e s ,

m o s t

ICH

s e e m t o b e

s p o n t a n e o u s . 2

ICH

o c c u r s

m o s t

c o m m o n l y

i n

t h e

e a r l y

d a y s a f t e r

d i a g n o s i s ,

b u t c a n o c c u r

n e a r l y a n y t i m e a f t e r o n s e t . 0 2

I t

h a s b e e n

s u g g e s t e d

t h a t

p a t i e n t s w i t h

p l a t e l e t

c o u n t s

o f

l e s s

t h a n

1 0 x

1 0 9 / l

a r e

a t

a

g r e a t e r

r i s k

o f

I H 2 , 1 0 , 1 2 , 2 0

P r e v i o u s

a u t h o r s h a v e

c o m m e n t e d

o n

t h e r e l a t i v e

r a r i t y

a n d f a t a l i t y

o f

ICH

i n

a d u l t s

w i t h

I T P . F o r

e x a m p l e ,

D i f i n o

e t a l . 6

r e p o r t e d

t h r e e i n c i d e n c e s

o f

ICH i n

h i s

s e r i e s

o f

6 7 a d u l t

c a s e s o f I T P ,

a l l

o f w h i c h

F i g u r e

1

U n e n h a n c e d

CT

s c a n

s h o w i n g a c u t e

b i l a t e r a l

h a e m o r r h a g e s

i n

t h e

b a s a l

g a n g l i a .

w e r e

f a t a l a n d

C a r p e n t e r e t

a l . 5

r e p o r t e d

t w o

c a s e s

o f

ICH

i n h i s s e r i e s

o f

8 5

a d u l t s

a n d

b o t h w e r e

f a t a l .

H o w e v e r , t h e y

g a v e

n o

s p e c i f i c

d e t a i l s

a s

t o

how

t h e

d i a g n o s i s

o f t h e

ICH

w a s

m a d e ,

t h e c l i n i c a l

c o u r s e , o r

t h e

t r e a t m e n t . O t h e r

r e p o r t s a l s o

a l l u d e t o a d u l t

c a s e s

o f I T P

c o m p l i c a t e d

b y

I C H ,

b u t t h i s

d i a g n o s i s

w a s

u n c e r t a i n b e c a u s e

n o

i n v e s t i g a t i o n a l

t e s t s

( e . g . CT

s c a n ) w e r e

p e r f o r m e d

t o

p r o v e t h a t

h a e m o r r h a g e s

h a d

o c c u r r e d . 4 7

F u r t h e r ,

w i t h

t h e c u r r e n t

k n o w l e d g e

o f

t h e d i s e a s e ,

i t i s

q u e s t i o n a b l e

w h e t h e r

some

o f

t h e

o l d e r

r e p o r t s o f ICH w e r e

t r u l y e x a m p l e s o f I T P

o r

w h e t h e r

t h e y r e p r e s e n t e d

o t h e r d i s e a s e s

w h i c h

may

h a v e

p r e s e n t e d

a s

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i a .

More

r e c e n t l y ,

N a g l e r

e t

a l . 8

r e p o r t e d

t h e

o c c u r r e n c e

o f a

s u b d u r a l

h a e m a t o m a

i n

a

3 2

y e a r

o l d man

w i t h

c h r o n i c

I T P .

T h i s i s

t h e

o n l y

o t h e r

d o c u m e n t e d

c a s e

o f

a n

ICH

o c c u r r i n g

i n a n a d u l t w i t h

I T P .

I f

a

p a t i e n t

w i t h

I T P

d e v e l o p s s i g n s

o r

s y m p t o m s o f

c e n t r a l n e r v o u s

s y s t e m

b l e e d i n g

s u c h a s

r e t i n a l

h a e m o r r h a g e s ,

c o n v u l s i o n s ,

m e n i n g i s m u s ,

h e a d a c h e ,

p e r s o n a l i t y

c h a n g e s

o r

n e u r o l o g i c a l

s i g n s ,

r a p i d

a n d

v i g o r o u s

t r e a t m e n t

m u s t b e

i n i t i a t e d a s t h i s

c a n

b e

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CLINICAL

REPORTS 7 8 3

f a t a l .

T h e r a p y

f o r ICH

a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h I T P

c o n s i s t s o f

c o n t r o l l i n g

t h e

e l e v a t e d

i n t r a c r a n i a l p r e s s u r e w h i l e

a l s o a c h i e v i n g a

r a p i d r i s e

i n

t h e

p l a t e l e t

c o u n t

t o

c o n t r o l t h e

b l e e d i n g . 5 T r a d i t i o n a l

m e t h o d s

o f

h e a d

e l e v a t i o n ,

f l u i d

r e s t r i c t i o n s , a v o i d a n c e o f

h y p e r c a p n i a

a n d

i n t r a v e n o u s d e x a m e t h a s o n e

a n d

20 m a n n i t o l

c a n b e

i m p l e m e n t e d

t o c o n t r o l c e r e b r a l

o e d e m a .

 

P l a t e l e t t r a n s f u s i o n

a l o n e may

s l o w

d o w n

t h e

b l e e d i n g

b u t

i t s e l d o m

r e s u l t s

i n

a

s u s t a i n e d r i s e

o f p l a t e l e t

c o u n t d u e t o

p e r i p h e r a l p l a t e l e t d e s t r u c t i o n . 2 1 6 1 9

S t e r o i d a n d

i m m u n o s u p r e s s i v e

t h e r a p y

a p p e a r t o

i n c r e a s e

p l a t e l e t l i f e s p a n b u t

n o c o n t r o l l e d

s t u d i e s

s h o w t h a t t h i s

r e d u c e s t h e

r i s k o f

I C H . 2 6 - 8

E m e r g e n c y

s p l e n e c t o m y

f o l l o w e d

b y

p l a t e l e t

c o n c e n t r a t e s i s

e m p l o y e d

i n

c a s e s

o f

I T P

r e f r a c t o r y

t o

c o n s e r v a t i v e

t h e r a p y ,

o r i f

l i f e

t h r e a t e n i n g h a e m o r r h a g e s occur'9

T h e r e s p o n s e o f t h e

p l a t e l e t c o u n t

t o

s p l e n e c t o m y

v a r i e s

f r o m 7 0 - 9 0 , 9

2

a n d

i s

u s u a l l y

i m m e d i a t e w i t h

p e a k

c o u n t s

o b t a i n e d

i n

1 - 2 w e e k s . 2

  9

I f

t h e l e v e l o f

c o n s c i o u s n e s s

d e t e r i o r a t e s ,

o r

n e u r o l o g i c a l

d e f i c i t s

o c c u r a n d t h e

h a e m o r r h a g e i s i n

a n

a c c e s s i b l e l o c a t i o n ,

n e u r o s u r g i c a l i n t e r v e n t i o n

may

b e

w a r r a n t e d .

H a e m o r r h a g e s i n t o t h e p o s t e r i o r

f o s s a s h o u l d u s u a l l y

b e t r e a t e d

w i t h

c r a n i o t o m y

d u e

t o t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y o f a

r a p i d

r i s e

i n

i n t r a c r a n i a l p r e s s u r e . I t

h a s

b e e n

s t r e s s e d

t h a t s p l e n e c t o m y

s h o u l d

b e

d o n e p r i o r

t o c r a n i o t o m y

t o

a v o i d

f u r t h e r

ICH

d u r i n g

s u r g e r y

a l t h o u g h b o t h

p r o c e d u r e s may

b e d o n e t o g e t h e r

u n d e r o n e a n a e s t h

e s i a . 4 N

A s ICH

i s

t h e m o s t

d r e a d e d

c o m p l i c a t i o n

o f

I T P , w e

t h o u g h t

i t

v a l u a b l e t o

e x a m i n e

o u r

e x p e r i e n c e

i n t h i s

c a s e w i t h a

s u c c e s s f u l o u t c o m e . O u r

c a s e d e m o n s t r a t e s

t h a t

s u c c e s s f u l t r e a t m e n t o f t h e

ICH d e p e n d s

o n e a r l y

d i a g n o s i s

a n d

p r o m p t ,

a g g r e s s i v e

m a n a g e m e n t

o f

t h e

b l e e d i n g .

I f

c e n t r a l

n e r v o u s

s y s t e m

s y m p t o m s

a r e

p r e s e n t ,

t h e a l e r t

p h y s i c i a n

w i t h u s e o f t h e

p r e s e n t

d i a g n o s t i c

t e c h n i q u e s , a n d

m e d i c a l

a n d

s u r g i c a l

m a n -

a g e m e n t ,

may b e a b l e t o

p r e v e n t

p e r m a n e n t

n e u r o l o g i c a l

d e f i c i t

i n a n

e f f e c t i v e

m a n n e r .

R e f e r e n c e s

1 .

K o m r o w e r ,

G . M .

& W a t s o n ,

G . H .

P r o g n o s i s

i n

i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c p u r p u r a o f c h i l d h o o d .

A r c h

D i s

C h i l d 1 9 5 4 ,

2 9 :

5 0 2 - 5 0 6 .

2 .

W o e r n e r ,

S . J . , A b i l d g u a r d , C . F .

 

F r e n c h , B . N .

I n t r a c r a n i a l h a e m o r r h a g e

i n c h i l d r e n w i t h

i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c p u r p u r a . P e d i a t r i c s

1 9 8 1 , 6 7 :

4 5 3 -

4 6 0 .

3 .

L u s he r , J . M .

 

Z u e l z e r ,

W.W. I d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m -

b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r p u r a

i n

c h i l d h o o d .

J

P e d i a t r 1 9 6 6 ,

6 8 :

9 7 1 - 9 7 9 .

4 .

D o a n ,

C . A . , B o u ro n c l e , B .A .

& W i s e m a n ,

B . K .

I d i o p a t h i c

a n d

s e c o n d a r y

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c p u r p u r a :

C l i n i c a l s t u d y a n d

e v a l u a t i o n o f 3 8 1

c a s e s

o v e r a

p e r i o d

o f 2 8

y e a r s . A n n I n t e r n

Med 1 9 6 0 ,

5 3 :

8 6 1 - 8 7 6 .

5 .

C a r p e n t e r , A . F . ,

W i n t r o b e , M . M . , F u l l e r , E . A . , H a r t ,

A .

&

C a r t w r i g h t ,

G . E .

T r e a t m e n t o f

i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m -

b o c y t o p e n i c p u r p u r a .

JAMA 1 9 5 9 , 1 7 1 : 1 9 1 1 - 1 9 1 6 .

6 .

D i f i n o ,

S . M .

L a c h a n t ,

N . A . , K i r s h n e r , J . J .

 

G o o t l e i b ,

A . J . A d u l t

i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r -

p u r a :

c l i n i c a l

f i n d i n g s a n d r e s p o n s e

t o t h e r a p y . A m J

M ed

1 9 8 0 ,

6 9 :

4 3 0 - 4 4 2 .

7 . H i r s h , E . O . &

D a m e s h e k ,

W.

I d i o p a t h i c t h r o m -

b o c y t o p e n i a .

R e v i e w

o f

8 9

c a s e s

w i t h

p a r t i c u l a r

r e f e r e n c e

t o

t h e d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n

a n d

t r e a t m e n t

o f

a c u t e

( s e l f l i m i t e d )

a n d c h r o n i c

t y p e s .

A r c h

I n t M ed

1 9 5 1 ,

8 8 :

7 0 1 - 7 2 8 .

8 .

N a g l e r ,

A . , B r e n n e r ,

B . ,

H a y e k ,

T .

 

B r o o k ,

J . G . S u b -

d u r a l

h e m a t o m a

i n

a

3 2

y e a r

o l d

man

w i t h

c h r o n i c

i d i o p a t h i c t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c p u r p u r a .

A c t a H a e m a t o l

( B a s e l ) 1 9 8 6 ,

7 4 :

1 8 6 - 1 8 7 .

9 . M u e l l e r - E c k h a r d t ,

C .

I d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r -

p u r a :

c l i n i c a l

a n d

i m m u n o l o g i c

c o n s i d e r a t i o n s .

S e m i n

T h r o m b H e m o s t 1 9 7 7 ,

3 :

1 2 5 - 1 5 9 .

1 0 .

L u s h e r ,

L . M .

 

I y e r ,

R .

I d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r p u r a

i n

c h i l d r e n .

S e m i n

T h r o m b

H e m o s t

1 9 7 7 , 3 : 1 7 5 -

1 9 4 .

1 1 .

D a m e s h k ,

W .

C o n t r o v e r s i e s

i n

i d i o p a t h i c t h r o m -

b o c y t o p e n i c p u r p u r a .

JAMA

1 9 6 0 ,

1 7 3 :

1 0 2 5 - 1 0 2 9 .

1 2 .

M c C l u r e ,

P . D . I d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r p u r a

i n

c h i l d h o o d :

d i a g n o s i s a n d

m a n a g e m e n t .

P e d i a t r i c s

1 9 7 5 ,

5 5 : 6 8 - 7 4 .

1 3 .

W i n t r o b e , M. I d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r p u r a .

I n

W i n t r o b e , M.

( e d )

C l i n i c a l

H e m a t o l o g y ,

7 t h

e d i t i o n . L e a

&

F e b i g e r ,

P h i l a d e l p h i a ,

1 9 7 4 ,

p

1 0 7 5 .

1 4 .

H u m p h r e y s ,

R . P . ,

H o c k l e y , A . D . ,

F r e e d m a n ,

M . H .

 

S a u n d e r s , E . F .

M a n a g e m e n t

o f i n t r a c r a n i a l

h a e m o r r -

h a g e

i n

i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r p u r a .

J

N e u r o s u r g

1 9 7 6 , 4 5 :

7 0 0 - 7 0 4 .

1 5 . L o t a n ,

C . S . ,

W a l d , U . ,

L u d o m i r s k y ,

A .

  C i v i d a l l i , G .

I n t r a c r a n i a l h e m o r r h a g e

s i m u l a t i n g b r a i n t u m o r i n

i m m u n e

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c p u r p u r a . E u r J

P e d i a t r

1 9 8 3 ,

1 4 1 :

1 2 7 - 1 2 8 .

1 6 .

D u n n , N . L . &

M a u r e r , H . M .

P r e d n i s o n e

t r e a t m e n t o f

a c u t e

i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c p u r p u r a

i n

c h i l d -

h o o d . A d v a n t a g e s . Am J P e d i a t

H e m a t o l O n c o l

1 9 8 4 , 6 :

1 5 9 - 1 6 4 .

1 7 . O r a l ,

A . ,

N u s b a c h e r ,

J . ,

H i l l ,

J . B .  

L e w i s , J . H .

I n t r a v e n o u s

g a m m a g l o b u l i n

i n

t h e

t r e a t m e n t o f

c h r o n i c

i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c p u r p u r a

i n

a d u l t s .

Am

J

M ed

1 9 8 4 , 3 0 : 1 8 7 - 1 9 2 .

1 8 .

M c h i n o , H . ,

Y a s u n a g a ,

K .

  A k a t s u k a , J . A .

 

c o o p e r a t i v e c l i n i c a l t r i a l

o f h i g h

d o s e

i m m u n o g l o b u l i n

t h e r a p y

i n 1 7 7

c a s e s o f i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r p u r a . T h r o m b

H a e m o s t

1 9 8 4 ,

5 1 : 1 8 2 - 5 1 9 .

1 9 .

L a c e y , J . V .  

P e n n e r , J . A . M a n a g e m e n t o f

i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c p u r p u r a

i n t h e a d u l t .

S e m i n

T h r o m b

H e m o s t

1 9 7 7 ,

3 : 1 6 0 - 1 7 4 .

2 0 .

M c M i l l a n ,

R .

C h r o n i c

i d i o p a t h i c

t h r o m b o c y t o p e n i c

p u r p u r a . N

E n g l J

M ed

1 9 8 1 ,

3 0 4 : 1 1 3 5 - 1 1 4 7 .

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purpura.idiopathic thrombocytopenic26 year-old woman withIntracranial haemorrhage in a

G. Awerbuch and R. Sandyk

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