Abstract
Thrombocytopenia in older patients is associated with several characteristics that
are often underrecognized. Among them are the risk of bleeding complications, the
senescence of the bone marrow, the increased use of multiple drugs, and greater comorbidity.
In this article, the various forms of thrombocytopenia, including primary and drug-associated
immune thrombocytopenias, as well as other drug-associated thrombocytopenias, are
reviewed. In addition, how age-related changes in platelet function may affect the
bleeding risk is discussed.
Keywords
thrombocytopenia - older adults - bleeding - immune thrombocytopenic purpura - drug-induced
thrombocytopenia