Thrombocytopenia - Causes - Better Medicine

What causes thrombocytopenia?

Thrombocytopenia, or a low level of platelets in the blood, can arise from a variety of diseases, disorders or conditions that cause either low platelet production or excessive platelet breakdown. Platelet breakdown can occur in the bloodstream, liver or spleen.

Causes of low platelet production

Thrombocytopenia can result from conditions that affect the bone marrow and disrupt the production of platelets from bone marrow stem cells including:

Anemia (low red blood cell count)
Bone marrow cancer
Bone marrow infection
Chemotherapy
Cirrhosis of the liver
Medication side effects
Myelodysplasia (low production of certain types of blood cells)
Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency (as in pernicious anemia)

Causes of platelet breakdown in the bloodstream, liver and spleen

Thrombocytopenia may also result from conditions that lead to the excessive breakdown of blood cells in the bloodstream, liver and spleen including:

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (rare disease characterized by kidney failure and multiple blood clots)
Hypersplenism (overactive spleen)
Immune- and nonimmune-induced breakdown of blood cells
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (rare conditions in which small blood clots form throughout the body, resulting in low platelet levels)
Medication side effects

What are the risk factors for thrombocytopenia?

A number of factors increase the risk of developing thrombocytopenia. Not all people with risk factors will get thrombocytopenia. Risk factors for thrombocytopenia include:

Anemia (low red blood cell count)
Certain types of cancer such as leukemia (cancer of the blood or bone marrow)
Certain viral or bacterial infections
Chemical or environmental toxin exposure
Family history of low platelet counts

Reducing your risk of thrombocytopenia

Your risk of developing thrombocytopenia depends on the underlying cause. Although it is generally not possible to prevent thrombocytopenia, in certain cases you may be able to lower your risk of thrombocytopenia by:

Avoiding alcohol, which slows platelet production
Avoiding environmental toxins, which can reduce platelet production
Avoiding medications known to decrease platelet production
Receiving vaccinations as recommended by medical professionals

INTRODUCTION

What is thrombocytopenia?

Thrombocytopenia is a disorder in which there are too few platelets in the blood. Platelets are small, disk-shaped cellular fragments in the bloodstream that help the blood to clot. Thus, thrombocytopenia is often characterized by excessive bleeding, including nosebleeds and easy bruising. Thrombocytopenia can be diag... Read more about thrombocytopenia introduction

SYMPTOMS

What are the symptoms of thrombocytopenia?

Mild cases of thrombocytopenia may not produce any symptoms. The symptoms of moderate thrombocytopenia are related to problems in blood clotting, such as frequent or easy bruising or bleeding, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or a rash. In severe cases, unexplained bruising or bleeding may occur, including bleeding in the brain or in other internal organs.... Read more about thrombocytopenia symptoms

TREATMENTS

How is thrombocytopenia treated?

In mild cases of thrombocytopenia, no treatment may be required. For moderate cases, treatment depends on the cause of thrombocytopenia. In cases related to medications or environmental contaminants, thrombocytopenia may resolve on its own once the underlying cause is removed. In other moderate cases, medication may be prescribed in order to increase platelet counts. In severe thrombocytopenia, procedures such as blood transfusion, platelet transfusion, or splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen) may be necessary.... Read more about thrombocytopenia treatments