Low Platelet Count Causes

Platelets are blood cells whose primary function is the cessation of bleeding from a ruptured or injured blood vessel. So, you can say that the role of platelets is in homeostasis. They are the fragments of cells which break off from larger cells, known as megakaryocytes. The megakaryocytes reside in the bone marrow. They produce platelets in response to a protein called thrombopoietin. This protein is made by the liver when there is a decline in the count of platelets in the circulating blood.

Platelet count may differ from individual to individual. However, the normal platelet count is generally considered to be anywhere between 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per micro-liter of circulating blood. Under certain circumstances, the blood platelet count declines. The condition is medically termed as thrombocytopenia. There can be several low platelet count causes. Read on to know about some of the causative factors along with noticeable symptoms.

What are the Symptoms of Low Platelet Count

There are some potential consequences of a low blood platelet count. You may experience skin bleeding as the initial signal of a low platelet count. You may notice tiny red dots in the skin, particularly on the lower parts of your legs. Such a condition is called petechiae. You may suffer from blood disorders. Even a slight injury may lead to little bruises and its spread. You may have bleeding gums. You can suffer from hematuria and melena. Low platelet count may give rise to abnormally intense menstrual periods. You may find bleeding quite difficult to stop.

What Causes Low Platelet Count

Medications: Certain drugs can interfere with the function of the immune system and lead to low platelet count. Some of the examples of such drugs are quinine, heparin, gold salts, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory, cardiac medicines and diuretics, benzodiazepines, anti-epileptic, sulfonylurea, retinoids, iodinated contrast agents, antidepressants and illicit drugs. Hence, medication can be one of the possible reasons for low platelet count.

Pregnancy: During pregnancy, a woman's body produces more blood and plasma. There is a comparatively higher blood volume and lower platelet number circulating throughout the body of pregnant woman. The platelets are spread apart and more diluted. Thus, pregnancy is one of the possible reasons behind low platelet count. According to studies, about 5 per cent of expectant mothers develop mild to moderate thrombocytopenia, particularly when they are close to parturition. Thus, pregnancy is among the common causes of low platelet count.

Autoimmune Diseases: There are some autoimmune diseases wherein the immune system of your body destroys its own platelets. An example of such an autoimmune disease is known as idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP). In majority of the cases, your immune system is believed to cause ITP. Under normal conditions, your immune system works to fight infections and diseases. But when you suffer from ITP, your immune system takes the platelets as foreign substances, attacks and destroys them. There are some more examples of autoimmune diseases in which platelets gets destroyed by the immune system. They are lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, you can consider autoimmune diseases as the possible low platelet count causes.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a medical condition which is characterized by the breakup of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and kidney failure. It involves clumping of platelets in the small blood vessels of the kidneys. This results in reduced blood flow or ischemia. Such a condition can cause kidney failure. The partial blockage of the blood vessels may even lead to hemolysis, which is the destruction of erythrocytes. Several disease conditions may cause HUS. They include E. Coli, Shigella bacteria, tumors, drugs, pregnancy and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Purpura: The medical condition wherein small blood clots get suddenly formed throughout the body is called thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP). Since blood clotting requires platelets, this condition is characterized by sudden fall in the blood platelet count. TTP is a life-threatening disease and is symptomized by breakup of erythrocytes, fever, renal abnormalities, neurologic changes like neurological signs such as aphasia, convulsions and blindness. So, TTP can be one of the low platelet count causes.

The condition of low platelet count is diagnosed by a complete blood count (CBC). It includes a count of platelets in the blood. If the count is lower than 150, 000 per microliter of blood, the condition is referred to as low platelet count or thrombocytopenia. A blood smear may be performed by the clinician to double-check the number of platelets. Effective medical treatment is available for low platelet count causes. The treatment usually depends upon the low platelet count cause. Hence, correct and timely diagnosis is a must.