Thrombocytopenia

• • • • Viral infections: Many viruses can cause the bone marrow to function improperly. Some of these viruses include cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, HIV, and rubella. • Nutrient deficiency: Low levels of vitamin B12 or folate can cause decreased platelet counts. • Chemical exposure: Exposure to some chemicals such as pesticides can decrease platelet counts. Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia • • Medications: Certain medications carry the risk of potentially causing the body to destroy its own platelets. Some of these medications include • Infection: Low platelets may develop as they are consumed by the immune system during a viral or bacterial infection. A Word From Verywell Thrombocytopenia, or low platelet counts, can be caused by a variety of conditions. If you have one of the conditions listed above or have other concerns that you may have low platelets, contact your healthcare provider to have this evaluated. A simple blood test can find out if you have normal or less-than-normal platelet counts. • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. • MDS Foundation. • Gauer R, Braun MM. AFP. 2012;85(6):612-622. • Ciobanu AM, Colibaba S, Cimpoca B, Peltecu G, Panaitescu AM. Maedica (Bucur). 2016;11(1):55-60. • D’Andrea G, Chetta M, Margaglione M. Blood Transfus. 2009;7(4):278-292. doi:10.2450/2009.0078-08 • Cleveland Clinic.

Diagnosis To diagnose immune thrombocytopenia, a health care provider will try to rule out other possible causes of bleeding and a low platelet count. No one test can prove the diagnosis. Blood tests can check platelet levels. Rarely, adults might need a bone marrow biopsy to rule out other problems. Treatment People with mild immune thrombocytopenia might need only regular platelet checks. Children usually improve without treatment. Most adults with ITP will need treatment at some point. The condition often gets worse or lasts long, also known as chronic. Treatment might include medicines to increase platelet count or surgery to remove the spleen, known as a splenectomy. A health care provider can talk about the pros and cons of treatment options. Some people find the side effects of treatment are worse than the disease. Medications Make sure your health care provider knows about medicines or supplements you take without a prescription. You might need to stop using any that might increase bleeding. Examples include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and ginkgo biloba. Medicines to treat ITP may include: • Steroids. Health care providers often use an oral corticosteroid, such as prednisone. When the platelet count is back to a safe level, the provider can tell how to cut down the medicine a little at a time. Long-term use of these medicines can increase the risk of infections, high blood sugar and osteoporosis. • Immune globulin. If corticosteroids don't work, a...

• • Lower than normal number of platelets, the blood cells responsible for clotting • • Symptoms include bleeding gums, nosebleeds, bruising easily, heavy menstrual blood flow • • Treatment includes medication, surgery, platelet transfusion, plasma exchange • • Involves Hematology, Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which a person has a low number of platelets, the blood cells responsible for clotting. Platelets help form clots or plugs to stop wounds from bleeding. People with severe thrombocytopenia may bleed easily and have difficulty stopping the bleeding. However, those with mild thrombocytopenia may have no issues with excessive bleeding. There are mild and severe forms of thrombocytopenia. The mild forms are not urgent and rarely cause abnormal bleeding. In contrast, severe forms are life-threatening, causing gastrointestinal bleeding, heavy menstruation or brain hemorrhages (bleeding within the brain). Thrombocytopenia has different causes. Sometimes, the bone marrow isn’t producing enough platelets, or the platelets are being removed from the bloodstream by the immune system, spleen, or liver. Determining the cause of thrombocytopenia helps doctors determine how to treat the condition. A commonly diagnosed cause of thrombocytopenia, called immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), is an autoimmune condition that can be temporary (called acute ITP), or last a long time (called chronic ITP). In children, acute ITP is more common than chr...

A person with thrombocytopenia has a low platelet count. Platelets, or thrombocytes, are small cell fragments in the blood. When bleeding occurs, the platelets clump together to form a clot. When someone has an abnormally low level of platelets, the blood does not clot as it should, making it more difficult to stop bleeding when someone sustains an injury. Mild thrombocytopenia may not pose much risk, but more persistent or severe thrombocytopenia can cause serious bleeding. A range of thrombocytopenia treatments is available, with the cause of the condition determining the options that a doctor will suggest. Some of the medical conditions that can cause low platelet levels • primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), which is an autoimmune disease • other autoimmune diseases, such as • infections, such as with the • certain medications • long-term • pregnancy, especially the pregnancy complication • some nutritional deficiencies • inherited conditions, although this is more common in children than adults In this article, we look at the treatment options for thrombocytopenia, including blood and platelet transfusions, medications, surgery, and more. Share on Pinterest Travelsouls/Getty Images. A machine for separating platelets from donor blood. The treatment for thrombocytopenia can vary depending on how low a person’s platelet count becomes. If the platelet count falls within In these cases, a doctor may suggest monitoring the condition rather than treating it. A person may ...

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Platelets are circulating cell fragments that function in the clotting system. Thrombopoietin helps control the number of circulating platelets by stimulating the bone marrow to produce megakaryocytes, which in turn shed platelets from their cytoplasm. Thrombopoietin is produced in the liver at a constant rate and its circulating level is determined by how much is bound to circulating platelets and possibly to bone marrow megakaryocytes and the extent to which circulating platelets are cleared. Platelets circulate for 7 to 10 days. About one third are always transiently sequestered in the spleen. The platelet count is normally 140,000 to 440,000/mcL (140 to 440 × 10 9/L). However, the count can vary slightly according to menstrual cycle phase, decrease during near-term pregnancy (gestational thrombocytopenia), and increase in response to inflammatory cytokines (secondary, or reactive, thrombocytosis). Platelets are eventually destroyed by apoptosis, a process independent of the spleen. An abnormal increase in platelets ( Essential Thrombocythemia Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by an increased platelet count, megakaryocytic hyperplasia, and a hemorrhagic or microvascular vasospastic tendency... read more and Reactive Thrombocytosis (Secondary Thrombocythemia) Reactive thrombocytosis is an elevated platelet count (> 450,000/mcL [> 450 × 10 9/L]) that develops secondary to another disorder. (See also Overview of Myeloproliferativ...