Living with Glanzmann thrombasthenia
A bleeding disorder present from birth that causes easy bruising, nosebleeds, and long bleeding after injury.
Understanding Glanzmann thrombasthenia
People may bruise easily, have frequent nosebleeds, and bleed from the gums. Bleeding may last a long time after injury or surgery, including dental work. Women can have heavy periods and a higher risk of heavy blood loss in pregnancy and childbirth. Severity varies, even within a family, and spontaneous bleeding tends to become less frequent with age.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Easy bruising
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Bleeding gums
- Long bleeding after surgery or circumcision
- Red or purple spots under the skin (petechiae)
- Heavy or long periods
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include blood and bone marrow specialists and genetic specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Blood and bone marrow specialists (hematologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with National Bleeding Disorders Foundation
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
Changes in genes cause this condition. A child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent (autosomal recessive). GARD does not name the gene.
Also known as: bleeding disorder, platelet-type, 2; glanzmann thromboasthenia; glanzmann-naegeli disorder; glanzmann's disease; glanzmann's syndrome; glanzmann's thrombasthenia
Patient organizations
- National Bleeding Disorders FoundationGlanzmann thrombasthenia · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Glanzmann thrombasthenia.
Explore research for Glanzmann thrombasthenia
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- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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