Diagnostics and mechanisms of hemostasis: In patients with mild bleeding disorders and thrombocytopenia

Mild bleeding disorders include Von Willebrand's disease, platelet function disorders, mild coagulation factor deficiencies and abnormalities of clotting. Correct identification and timely recognition of a mild bleeding disorder is important to prevent bleeding, especially during or after surgery or childbirth, by initiating treatment or preventive therapy. In patients with mild bleeding disorders who have very variable bleeding symptoms and in 50% of patients referred to a haematologist for evaluation of bleeding symptoms, no diagnosis is found, despite extensive laboratory testing. In patients with a blood or lymph node cancer, chemotherapy treatment often leads to a low platelet count. This low platelet count increases the risk of bleeding. Therefore, as a precaution, these patients receive regular platelet transfusions. However, some patients bleed despite this treatment, while others do not bleed even though they do not receive this treatment. This research focused on the value of existing and new laboratory tests and diagnostic strategies to identify patients with mild bleeding disorders and to elucidate bleeding mechanisms in patients with low platelets due to chemotherapy.