Platelet Survival and Sequestration Studies in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Excerpt

The paper by Ries and Pierce, in this issue of the ANNALS, raises questions concerning the proper management of adult patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and other clinical syndromes that mimic it. The clinician frequently sees a patient with thrombocytopenia and normal or increased numbers of megakaryocytes in a bone marrow smear that is otherwise normal. The diagnosis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura should be made if other mimicking syndromes can be excluded. Many drugs can produce these clinical features. Although the most common offenders are quinidine, the sulfanilamides, and the thiazides, in practice, all drugs should be eliminated and the