Khaliq S. Diagnostic Challenges in Children With Congenital Bleeding Disorders: A Developing Country Perspective.
Am J Clin Pathol 2021;
156:1149-1154. [PMID:
34125163 DOI:
10.1093/ajcp/aqab073]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To assess the frequency and characteristics of children with inherited bleeding disorders that were initially misdiagnosed, leading to inappropriate disease management.
METHODS
This study was conducted at the Haematology/Pathology Department of Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from August 2014 to August 2018. Children who were diagnosed with an inherited bleeding disorder but did not respond to initial therapy were reevaluated.
RESULTS
In total, 62 children were diagnosed with a bleeding disorder. Of these, 27 were diagnosed with an inherited bleeding disorder and 35 with an acquired bleeding disorder. Of the 27 children with inherited bleeding disorders, 18% (n = 5) were misdiagnosed and treated inappropriately. The median age of the misdiagnosed patients was 9 years (range, 5-13 years). Three patients with Bernard-Soulier syndrome had been misdiagnosed as having immune thrombocytopenic purpura, 1 patient with von Willebrand disease had been misdiagnosed as having hemophilia A, and 1 patient with haemophilia B had been misdiagnosed as having hemophilia A.
CONCLUSIONS
There are chances of misdiagnosis and improper or invasive management if comprehensive laboratory evaluation and a thorough clinical evaluation are not performed in children with congenital bleeding disorders.
Collapse