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General Knowledge for Thrombocytopenia (reduced platelet count)
What is thrombocytopenia?
Thrombocytopenia is the term for a reduced platelet (thrombocyte) count. It happens when platelets
are lost from the circulation faster than they can be replaced from the bone marrow where they are
made.
Thrombocytopenia can result from:
a failure of platelet production
an increased rate of removal from blood.
What are platelets?
Platelets are tiny cells that circulate in the blood and whose function is to take part in the clotting
process.
The platelet count in the circulating blood is normally between 150 and 400 million per millilitre of
blood. Newborn babies have a slightly lower level, but are normally within the adult range by three
months of age.
Many factors can influence an individual's platelet count including exercise and racial origin. The
average life span of a platelet in the blood is 10 days.
What are the risks of a low platelet count?
The main effect of a reduced platelet count is an increased risk of bleeding, but this rarely occurs
until there are less than 80-100 million platelets per ml.
There is not a close relationship between the number of platelets and the severity of bleeding, but
there is an increasing risk of haemorrhage if platelet numbers fall or if platelet function is impaired
(for example by aspirin, which reduces the 'stickiness' of the platelets).
There is a particularly high risk of spontaneous bleeding once the platelet count drops below 10
million per ml. The bleeding is usually seen on the skin in the form of tiny pin-prick haemorrhages
(purpura), or bruises (ecchymoses) following minor trauma.
Bleeding from the nose and the gums is also quite common. More serious haemorrhage can occur
at the back of the eye (retina), sometimes threatening sight.
The most serious complication, which is potentially fatal, is spontaneous bleeding inside the head
(intracranial) or from the lining of the gut (gastrointestinal).
What causes a low platelet count?
Platelets clumped.
Metabolic disorders, eg kidney failure, alcohol.
Abnormal platelet precursors: viral infections, inherited abnormalities.
Bone marrow infiltration, eg leukaemia, lymphoma.
Unknown cause (ITP).
Clotting disorder (DIC).
Blood disorder (TTP).
Enlarged spleen.
Treating Thrombocytopenia with Acupuncture and Herbal Remedy
What is thrombocytopenia?
Thrombocytopenia is the term for a reduced platelet (thrombocyte) count. It happens when platelets
are lost from the circulation faster than they can be replaced from the bone marrow where they are
made.
Thrombocytopenia can result from:
a failure of platelet production
an increased rate of removal from blood.
What are platelets?
Platelets are tiny cells that circulate in the blood and whose function is to take part in the clotting
process.
The platelet count in the circulating blood is normally between 150 and 400 million per millilitre of
blood. Newborn babies have a slightly lower level, but are normally within the adult range by three
months of age.
Many factors can influence an individual's platelet count including exercise and racial origin. The
average life span of a platelet in the blood is 10 days.
What are the risks of a low platelet count?
The main effect of a reduced platelet count is an increased risk of bleeding, but this rarely occurs
until there are less than 80-100 million platelets per ml.
There is not a close relationship between the number of platelets and the severity of bleeding, but
there is an increasing risk of haemorrhage if platelet numbers fall or if platelet function is impaired
(for example by aspirin, which reduces the 'stickiness' of the platelets).
There is a particularly high risk of spontaneous bleeding once the platelet count drops below 10
million per ml. The bleeding is usually seen on the skin in the form of tiny pin-prick haemorrhages
(purpura), or bruises (ecchymoses) following minor trauma.
Bleeding from the nose and the gums is also quite common. More serious haemorrhage can occur
at the back of the eye (retina), sometimes threatening sight.
The most serious complication, which is potentially fatal, is spontaneous bleeding inside the head
(intracranial) or from the lining of the gut (gastrointestinal).
What causes a low platelet count?
- False thrombocytopenia
Platelets clumped.
- Congenital thrombocytopenia
- Defective platelet production
Metabolic disorders, eg kidney failure, alcohol.
Abnormal platelet precursors: viral infections, inherited abnormalities.
Bone marrow infiltration, eg leukaemia, lymphoma.
- Diminished platelet survival
Unknown cause (ITP).
Clotting disorder (DIC).
Blood disorder (TTP).
- Loss of platelets from the circulation
Enlarged spleen.
Treating Thrombocytopenia with Acupuncture and Herbal Remedy