Blood Platelets - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Low blood platelets counts are the most common cause of bleeding disorders. Because blood plateletss playa vital role in blood clotting, this disorder poses a serious threat to the body’s ability to control bleeding.
The prognosis depends on how well the person responds to treatment of the underlying cause. For example, in drug-induced blood platelets shortage the person may recover immediately if the offending drug is withdrawn.

What Causes It?

A shortage of blood plateletss may be congenital (present at birth) or, more commonly, acquired. In either case, the condition usually results from decreased or defective production of blood plateletss in the bone marrow (as occurs in leukemia, aplastic anemia, or poisoning with certain drugs) or from increased blood platelets destruction outside the marrow caused by an underlying disorder (such as cirrhosis of the liver, disseminated intravascular coagulation, or severe infection).
Less commonly, a low blood platelets count results from sequestration or blood platelets loss. An acquired low blood platelets count may result from the use of certain drugs.

What are its Symptoms?

A blood platelets shortage typically produces a sudden onset of red spots or bruising on the skin or bleeding into any mucous membrane. Nearly all people with this disorder lack other symptoms, although some may complain of malaise, fatigue, and general weakness. In adults, large blood-filled blisters characteristically appear in the mouth. In a severe low blood platelets count, hemorrhage may lead to rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, and death.

How is it Diagnosed?

The doctor obtains a history (including a drug history), performs a physical exam, and orders coagulation studies to provide information on blood platelets count and bleeding time. If increased blood platelets destruction is causing the low blood platelets count, bone marrow studies are ordered.

How is it Treated?

The preferred treatment is to eliminate the underlying cause or, in a drug-induced blood platelets shortage, to discontinue the offending drug. Other possible treatments may include giving corticosteroids or immune globulin to increase blood platelets production. Blood platelets transfusions are helpful only in treating complications of severe hemorrhage.