US EPA

7273601 

Journal Article 

Isolated Acute Thrombocytopenia in a 21-Year-Old Caucasian Male 

Beavers, C; Kern, W; Blick, K; , 

2009 

1 

Laboratory Medicine
ISSN: 0007-5027
EISSN: 1943-7730 

AMER SOC CLINICAL PATHOLOGY 

CHICAGO 

337-339 

10.1309/LMGIB39R5HHCRASO 

WOS:000266311300004 

Patient: 21-year-old Caucasian male.Chief Complaint: Bleeding gums.History of Present Illness: The patient is a basic training recruit who presented to an outside hospital after 3 days of bleeding gums and 1 episode of hematuria. Upon waking, he first noticed gum bleeding in the morning after spitting out a mouthful of blood. For 2 more days, the patient awoke with blood in his mouth and also noted frank blood in his urine on day 3. He then presented to an outside hospital for treatment, The patient received 3 units of platelets on admission; however, his platelet count did not increase. He denied hematochezia and melena. One week previous, the patient recounted having a sore throat with cough and fever.Medical History: The patient reported no chronic illnesses. He denied any history of blood disorders in his family. He recounted he had not drank alcohol or smoked in the last 5 weeks of basic training. He reported 20 total sexual partners in his lifetime. The patient tested negative for HIV and ANA prior to the current encounter.Current Medications: Tessalon (antitussive), Tylenol. No thrombocytopenia-associated agents were found in the patient's previous medical history.Physical Examination: Temperature, 36.3 degrees C; blood pressure, 130/75; pulse, 65. He was alert and oriented and in no apparent distress. Petechie and purpura of the lips and gums were present. Small hemorrhagic lesions were also present on the hard palate. There was a petechial rash below the knees and on the patient's feet bilaterally and bruising on the right antecubital surface of the arm. Hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy were not present.Principal Laboratory Findings Table 1, Table 2, and Image 1.