| A rare hematological disorder, seen almost exclusively in males, characterized by moderate to severe thrombocytopenia with hemorrhages with or without the presence of mild to severe anemia. The disease affects mainly males as females are usually asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms. It presents in infancy or in neonates (in severe cases) with patients bruising easily along with further manifestations of thrombocytopenia. The disease is caused by mutations in the GATA1 (Xp11.23) gene encoding GATA1, a transcriptional regulator involved in erythropoiesis and megakaryocytopoiesis. Different mutations found in this gene account for a variable phenotypic spectrum of disorders. |