Thrombocytopenia (patient information)
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Thrombocytopenia |
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Thrombocytopenia On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
What are the symptoms of Thrombocytopenia?
What causes Thrombocytopenia?
Thrombocytopenia is often divided into three major causes of low platelets:
- Not enough platelets are made in the bone marrow
- Increased breakdown of platelets in the bloodstream
- Increased breakdown of platelets in the spleen or liver
Your bone marrow may not make enough platelets if you have any of the following conditions:
- Aplastic anemia
- Cancer in the bone marrow, such as leukemia
- Cirrhosis (liver scarring)
- Folate deficiency
- Infections in the bone marrow (very rare)
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (bone marrow does not make enough blood cells or makes defective cells)
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
Use of certain drugs may also lead to a low production of platelets in the bone marrow. The most common example is chemotherapy treatment.
The following health conditions cause increased breakdown of platelets:
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
- Drug-induced nonimmune thrombocytopenia
- Drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia
- Hypersplenism (swollen spleen)
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
When to seek urgent medical care?
Diagnosis
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Thrombocytopenia?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Thrombocytopenia