A 28-year-old woman sees her family physician complaining of easy bruising and menorrhagia. She has a platelet count of 60 * 10⁹/L. All other hematology and routine coagulation tests are normal. She has a platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibody in her serum. Which of the following is most likely?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient presents with easy bruising, menorrhagia, and a low platelet count with normal hematology and routine coagulation tests. The presence of platelet-associated IgG autoantibody in her serum suggests chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), which is characterized by a decreased platelet count due to accelerated platelet destruction caused by autoantibodies. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, fever, neurologic symptoms, and renal dysfunction. Acute ITP is a self-limited illness typically seen in children and is not associated with the presence of platelet-associated IgG autoantibody. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal dysfunction, but it is not associated with the presence of platelet-associated IgG autoantibody.

A 28-Year-Old Woman Sees Her Family Physician Complaining of Easy