Objectives: This study aimed to describe the burden of thrombocytopenia thrombocytopenia: (throm-buh-sie-tuh-PEE-nee-uh) A condition in which there is a shortage of platelets in the bloodstream. This results in a low platelet count. Bleeding and bruising often occur with thrombocytopenia. , supportive care supportive care: Care given to improve the quality of life, or comfort, of a person with a chronic illness. Supportive care treats the symptoms rather than the underlying cause of a disease. The goal is to help the patient feel better. Patients with low blood counts may be given blood transfusions as supportive… practices, bleeding complications and predictors of bleeding in MDS patients within a large Australian hospital network, to better understand the use and effectiveness of platelet platelet: The smallest type of blood cell. Platelets help the blood to clot and stop bleeding. Also called a thrombocyte. transfusions in MDS.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥18 years with MDS, chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia or MDS/myeloproliferative overlap neoplasm admitted from 2016 to 2018 was conducted. Data were obtained from hospital medical records.
Results: One hundred seventy-nine patients (median age 78 years, 61.5% male) were identified. The median platelet count at first admission was 90 × 109 /L. Twenty-eight (15.6%) patients had severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <20 × 109 /L), of whom nine (32.1%) received prophylactic prophylactic: Something that prevents or protects. Blood thinners may be given as a prophylactic to prevent blood clots in high risk patients. platelet transfusions, five (17.9%) received tranexamic acid (TXA), seven (25%) received both platelet transfusions and TXA, and seven (25%) received no treatment. Bleeding events requiring hospitalisation occurred in 20 (11.2%) patients. Bleeding was not predicted by presenting platelet count, TXA use, platelet transfusion platelet transfusion: A procedure in which platelets are given to a person through an intravenous (IV) line into the bloodstream. Platelets are more likely than red blood cells to cause an immune response, such as chills and fever. The use of platelets from one donor (apheresis) reduces the chance of reaction to… or anticoagulant anticoagulant: (ant-i-ko-AG-yuh-lunt) See blood thinner. /antiplatelet therapies. Three patients died of bleeding, at varying platelet counts (18, 38 and 153 × 109 /L).
Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia is common in MDS. Although guidelines recommend otherwise, prophylactic platelet transfusions were commonly used for severe thrombocytopenia. Despite the majority of patients receiving platelet transfusions and/or TXA, 11% developed major bleeding occurring at a wide range of platelet counts.
Keywords: haemorrhage; myelodysplastic syndromes myelodysplastic syndromes: (my-eh-lo-diss-PLASS-tik SIN-dromez) A group of disorders where the bone marrow does not work well, and the bone marrow cells fail to make enough healthy blood cells. Myelo refers to the bone marrow. Dysplastic means abnormal growth or development. People with MDS have low blood cell count for at… ; platelet transfusion; thrombocytopenia.