Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis has been proven to reduce the incidence of venous thromboembolism in both surgical patients and acutely ill medical patients. In surgical patients, thromboprophylaxis has been shown to reduce the incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism and the rate of death from any cause; in medical patients, studies have shown that thromboprophylaxis is associated with… Read More…
In the latest article in our Clinical Therapeutics review series, a young woman with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who has been treated with a thrombopoietin-receptor agonist presents for advice regarding long-term treatment. The agents in this therapeutic class, romiplostim and eltrombopag, are effective in increasing platelet counts. Immune thrombocytopenia is a disorder that is characterized by immune-mediated… Read More…
In this week’s Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital, a 16-year-old girl with a history of lupus nephritis was seen in the emergency department because of altered mental status. She was somnolent and agitated and had no focal neurologic signs. Brain CT revealed no abnormalities. Laboratory studies revealed anemia and thrombocytopenia. A diagnosis of… Read More…
