Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia - Cause

Cause

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia can be inherited in an autosomal recessive manner or acquired as an autoimmune disorder.

The bleeding tendency in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is variable, some individuals having minimal bruising, while others have frequent, severe, potentially fatal hemorrhages. Moreover, platelet α_IIbβ₃ levels correlate poorly with hemorrhagic severity, as virtually undetectable α_IIbβ₃ levels can correlate with negligible bleeding symptoms, and 10%–15% levels can correlate with severe hemorrhage. Unidentified factors other than the platelet defect itself may have important roles.