What is the cause of refractory thrombocytopenia?!
Question:
What is the cause of refractory thrombocytopenia?
Answers:
I take it that you mean "refractory to transfusions"?
In patients who have had many platelet transfusions, a syndrome can develop in which the persons immune system develops antibodies to foreign platelets. The immune system destroys the new platelets as fast as they are run in. There is no strict algorithem for who will develop this problem, but in general: the more transfusions, the greater the risk.
Getting HLA matched platelets can be a big help if a person becomes refractory. I'm not sure if it would help to prevent it, but it is not generally done as a preventative measure (at least at my hospital).
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