Hematological abnormalities in adolescent menorrhagia.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of underlying hematological disorders as the cause of acute adolescent menorrhagia. METHODS: The records of 25 patients that were hospitalized with acute adolescent menorrhagia in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Cerrahpasa Medical School of Istanbul University between 1988 and 1995 were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 13.9 +/- 1.6 (SD) years. A hematological abnormality that caused bleeding diathesis and acute menorrhagia was diagnosed in 7 of the 25 patients (28%). There were four cases of immune thrombocytopenic purpura, two cases of Van Willebrand disease and one case of acute promyelocytic leukemia. All seven patients with a coagulation disorder required blood transfusions and the mean hemoglobin level at presentation was 6.2 g/dl.