Management of immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia, defined as a platelet count below the normal range, is one of the most common reasons for hematological consultation. Immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia includes autoimmune, alloimmune and secondary immune conditions characterized by a shortened platelet life span. A variety of platelet‐antibody assays have improved the ability of the clinician to make an accurate diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia in many diverse clinical settings that can involve pathogenic autoantibodies, alloantibodies, and drug‐dependent antibodies. The treatment decisions that arise depend upon several relevant factors, including the nature of the specific diagnosis, the expected prognosis, and the presence of clinically evident bleeding or thrombosis.