Glanzmann Thrombasthenia in Children: Experience From a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India.

BACKGROUND

Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) is a globally rare inherited disorder of hemostasis.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical profile of GT in a tertiary care center in Southern India.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of all children with GT was performed between January 2005 and August 2017 in the Department of Paediatrics.

RESULTS

A total of 48 patients (representing 43 families) were included. Median age at diagnosis was 2.75 years (interquartile range: 1.5 to 6.75). Two thirds had an onset of bleeding within the first 2 years of life. Sixty-seven percent were born out of consanguineous marriage. The common symptoms were epistaxis, gingival bleeding, and ecchymoses. Neonatal onset of bleeding manifested as purpura, epistaxis, and intracranial hemorrhage. Postsurgical bleeding and menorrhagia were unique presentations in adolescence. About 25% had life-threatening hemorrhage while 50% had growth retardation due to chronic anemia.

CONCLUSIONS

GT is relatively more common in areas of Southern India due to the higher prevalence of consanguinity. Chronic anemia can contribute to growth stunting in these patients.