Thrombocytopenia: Other Causes By David J Kuter, MD, DPhil, Harvard Medical School Reviewed / Revised Jun 2022 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Topic Resources Pretest probability of heparin-in... Platelet destruction can develop because of immunologic causes (viral infection, drugs, connective tissue or lymphoproliferative disorders, blood transfusions) or nonimmunologic causes (sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome).