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Thrombocytopenia in Intensive Care Patients

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Intensive Care Medicine

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Abstract

Thrombocytopenia is a common feature in intensive care patients. Similar to other settings in which thrombocytopenia may occur, the decrease in platelet count may be caused by impaired production, increased consumption, or enhanced degradation of these cells. In this chapter, we will discuss the epidemiology and differential diagnosis of a decreased platelet count in critically ill patients, First, we will briefly introduce platelet function and platelet vessel wall interaction in the normal situation and during severe infection and/or inflammation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    M. Levi

  2. Department of Intensive Care, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    J. J. Hofstra

  3. Infectious Disease Division, Brown Medical School, 111 Brewster Street, Pawtucket, RI, 02860, USA

    S. Opal

Authors
  1. M. Levi
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  2. J. J. Hofstra
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  3. S. Opal
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care Erasme Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Route de Lennik 808, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Louis Vincent MD, PhD, FCCM, FCCP (Head) (Head)

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© 2007 Springer Science + Business Media Inc.

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Levi, M., Hofstra, J.J., Opal, S. (2007). Thrombocytopenia in Intensive Care Patients. In: Vincent, JL. (eds) Intensive Care Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-49518-7_74

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-49518-7_74

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-49517-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-49518-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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