Prevalence of qualitative platelet disorders in adolescents and young adults with heavy menstrual bleeding: a single center experience
- 1Division of Hematology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- 2Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- 3Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Abstract
Background
Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a chronic condition that impacts an estimated 34% to 37% of the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population. Two of the most common causes of HMB in the AYA population are anovulatory cycles and inherited bleeding disorders (BDOs). Qualitative platelet disorders (QPDs) comprise a substantial portion of these BDOs, though the reported prevalence among AYAs with HMB is variable, with rates ranging from 28% to 49%.Objectives/hypothesis
Our primary aim was to assess the prevalence of QPDs among AYA individuals with unexplained HMB who were referred to our BDO clinic. In addition, we sought to understand how social determinants of health impacted time to testing for a QPD.Methods
This is a single-site, retrospective chart review of AYAs with unexplained HMB who underwent platelet function testing (PFT), composed of lumiaggregometry, quinacrine uptake/release, CD63 expression, and glycoprotein expression, at our institution. Data points collected included demographics, menstrual history (menarche and menstrual bleeding), which was determined by chart review, laboratory testing (PFT results), and timing from menarche to the first BDO visit, from menarche to PFT, and from first BDO visit to PFT to evaluate the impacts of social determinants of health.Results
A total of 411 individuals were included, and 44 individuals (10%) were ultimately diagnosed with a QPD. Of the 411 individuals, 103 (25%) had abnormal findings on initial PFT, many of which were nonspecific, prompting repeat testing. Repeat testing was performed in 63 of the 411 individuals (15%), and of those, 40 (10%) had normalization of PFT. Although there were no differences in time from menarche to first BDO visit or PFT, Black individuals had a longer median time from first BDO visit to first PFT than White individuals.Conclusion
QPD is less prevalent in individuals with unexplained HMB than previously described. This study highlights the importance of repeating PFT to confirm abnormal results before diagnosing a QPD.
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BibTeX
@article{carterfebres2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence of qualitative platelet disorders in adolescents and young adults with heavy menstrual bleeding: a single center experience}},
author = {Maria Carter-Febres and Cristina Tarango and Ashley Childress and Qin Sun and Jennifer Pomales and Eric S. Mullins},
journal = {Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.rpth.2026.106970},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13717005},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence of qualitative platelet disorders in adolescents and young adults with heavy menstrual bleeding: a single center experience
AU - Maria Carter-Febres
AU - Cristina Tarango
AU - Ashley Childress
AU - Qin Sun
AU - Jennifer Pomales
AU - Eric S. Mullins
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/18
JO - Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis
DO - 10.1016/j.rpth.2026.106970
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13717005
AB - Background Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a chronic condition that impacts an estimated 34% to 37% of the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population. Two of the most common causes of HMB in the AYA population are anovulatory cycles and inherited bleeding disorders (BDOs). Qualitative platelet disorders (QPDs) comprise a substantial portion of these BDOs, though the reported prevalence among AYAs with HMB is variable, with rates ranging from 28% to 49%.Objectives/hypothesis Our primary aim was to assess the prevalence of QPDs among AYA individuals with unexplained HMB who were referred to our BDO clinic. In addition, we sought to understand how social determinants of health impacted time to testing for a QPD.Methods This is a single-site, retrospective chart review of AYAs with unexplained HMB who underwent platelet function testing (PFT), composed of lumiaggregometry, quinacrine uptake/release, CD63 expression, and glycoprotein expression, at our institution. Data points collected included demographics, menstrual history (menarche and menstrual bleeding), which was determined by chart review, laboratory testing (PFT results), and timing from menarche to the first BDO visit, from menarche to PFT, and from first BDO visit to PFT to evaluate the impacts of social determinants of health.Results A total of 411 individuals were included, and 44 individuals (10%) were ultimately diagnosed with a QPD. Of the 411 individuals, 103 (25%) had abnormal findings on initial PFT, many of which were nonspecific, prompting repeat testing. Repeat testing was performed in 63 of the 411 individuals (15%), and of those, 40 (10%) had normalization of PFT. Although there were no differences in time from menarche to first BDO visit or PFT, Black individuals had a longer median time from first BDO visit to first PFT than White individuals.Conclusion QPD is less prevalent in individuals with unexplained HMB than previously described. This study highlights the importance of repeating PFT to confirm abnormal results before diagnosing a QPD.
SN - 2475-0379
ER -