TABLE 2

Differential diagnosis for thrombocytopenia

DiseaseThrombocytopeniaHemolysisaADAMTS13PT/PTTFibrinogenD-dimer
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpuraYesYesLowNormalNormalNormal
Hemolytic uremic syndromeYesYesNormalNormalNormalNormal
Disseminated intravascular coagulationYesYesNormalProlongedLowHigh
Immune thrombocytopenic purpuraYesNoNormalNormalNormalNormal
  • a Anemia, increased lactate dehydrogenase, decreased haptoglobin, increased reticulocyte count, increased unconjugated bilirubin.

  • ADAMTS13 = a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13; PT/PTT = prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time