Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia means you don't have enough platelets, cells in your blood that stick together to help it clot.

Causes

Platelets are made in your bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside your bones. You can get thrombocytopenia if your body doesn't make enough of them, or if they're destroyed faster than they can be made.


Your platelets can be damaged by:

• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), where your own body attacks healthy cells
• Medicines, such as antibiotics that contain sulfa, heparin used to prevent blood clots, and antiseizure drugs such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and vancomycin (Vancocin)
• Rare diseases that make blood clots form in the body, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
• Viruses like mononucleosis or cytomegalovirus

Sometimes, you don't have enough platelets because they get trapped in your spleen, an organ that fights infection. And women may get thrombocytopenia during pregnancy, because their bodies get rid of platelets more quickly than usual.

Symptoms

Sometimes you don't have any symptoms from thrombocytopenia. When you do, the main one is bleeding.
You can bleed outside or inside your body.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history and symptoms. You'll also get an exam to look for bruises, spots of blood on your skin, and other signs of low platelets. You'll be checked for signs of infection, like a fever or rash.   


You might get a blood test that measures the number of platelets. A normal count is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. You can have bleeding problems if your count drops below 50,000.

Treatment

If your platelet count isn't too low, you might not need treatment. You won't bleed too much, even if you get cut.
 

For severe thrombocytopenia, you might get:

• Steroid medicines to stop your body from destroying platelets
• Blood or platelets from a healthy person, called a transfusion
• Surgery to remove your spleen

To prevent bleeding when your platelets are low:

• Avoid medicines that thin your blood, like aspirin and ibuprofen.
• Limit how much alcohol you drink, because it can make bleeding worse.
• Don't play contact sports, like football or boxing, where you might get injured.
• Use a soft toothbrush to prevent bleeding gums.
• Wear a seatbelt in the car, and put on gloves and goggles when you work with power tools to prevent injury.