3 Potential Reasons for Having a Low Platelet Count

A number of potential reasons can lead to answers on what does low platelets mean. Let us identify in this post what would these be and how so does it cause a low platelet count.

Developing thrombocytopenia or a manifestation of low blood platelets can be identified in two general factors: acquired and inherited. Acquired Thrombocytopenia is complication or symptom of certain medical conditions. It’s not innate in nature. Inherited Thrombocytopenia is due to a person’s lineage. The person’s ancestors may have been a carrier of the condition and have passed them to their descendants. It’s innate in nature. Identifying the cause may sometimes get tricky. A selection of medical diagnostic procedures may be necessary.

Here are some reasons for acquired low platelet count:

•  Spleen storage for platelets abnormally increased
• Bone marrow platelet formation has abnormally decreased
•  Even with normal bone marrow functionality, an abnormal destruction of platelets is taking place

One of these or possibly a combination of some, can be identified as probably the main cause for a lowered platelet count.

Thrombocytopenia is a medical disorder where the platelets in the blood is abnormally below 150,000 per microliter of blood. The main function of platelets is their significance in blood clotting and normally ranges between 150,000 and 450,000 per microliter of blood. The life span of a single platelet is only 10 days. This makes it so that the bone marrow have to produce more platelets in exchange for dead platelet cells.

Let us now define in more detail these reasons of platelet count decrease as indicated below:

1. Spleen storage for platelets abnormally increased

This internal organ is responsible for blood filtration and storage of blood components for future use. It aids in the body’s immune system.  It’s anatomically positioned in the body’s left side, above stomach level. Belonging to the body’s defense system, in its assistance to fight diseases, it purifies blood components. However, once the spleen gets involved in an infection – potentially caused by a certain medical condition – there will be an increase in the number of platelet count stored. This will manifest a potentially gradual or sudden drop in the number of circulating blood platelets.

2. Bone marrow platelet formation has abnormally decreased

The bone marrow is responsible for platelet or thrombocyte of production which goes along with the circulating blood. There are several conditions like leukemia and anemia which affects the bone marrow functionality, resulting to the impairment of thrombocyte normal production rate. Also, viral infections that include Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) involvement, alters normal platelet production by damaging the bone marrow’s capability to make platelets. Specific substances, drugs and medical procedures (chemotherapy) have also proven to have connections to impaired platelet production.

3. Abnormal destruction of platelet

There are medical disorders that causes an abnormal destruction of platelets. There may be some conditions that just speed up platelet utilization, but there are others who seek and attack thrombocytes. This certainly result to a decrease in the number of platelets where production won’t be sufficient enough to compensate for the loss. A low number of circulating platelets will manifest abnormalities during the clotting process.

A low platelet count can be observed in the following conditions:

•             Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). A medical disorder where the body’s immune system recognizes platelets as a dangerous cell and seeks to attack it. Formation of antibodies will be developed to cause the destruction of platelets.

•             Autoimmune disorders.  Another medical condition where platelets are mistakenly identified and destroyed. Normal body cells such as thrombocytes are being seen as a threat to the body resulting to the attack. Destruction of platelets may then lead to Thrombocytopenia, an abnormal decrease in platelets. It can be found in conditions like lupus and arthritis.

•             Hemolytic uremic affliction. A serious medical condition that cause abnormal coagulation, blood cell destruction and acute kidney failure. A noticeable symptom is a drop in the amount of platelet count. Infection of Escherichia (E. coli) is one common connected reason and is obtained with raw meat consumption.

•            Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Thrombosis or formation of blood clots in small blood vessels abnormally becomes evident. This is a kind of life-threatening medical condition that could result to embolism and massive blood platelet clot formation causing vessel obstructions.

•             Pregnancy. A mild reduction of platelet count in the blood may be observed during pregnancy.

•             Medications. Drugs and substances can be the cause of decreased platelet count. With similarities to autoimmune disorder, it affects the body’s normal functionality and causes the immune system to seek and eliminate normal thrombocytes. Medications like heparin, quinidine, sulfa-containing antibiotics, interferon, quinine, and anticonvulsants should be given attention.

•             Bacterial Presence in the Blood. Blood contamination with bacteria can be a serious medical condition taking into consideration the blood is normally sterile. A presence of bacteria in the circulating blood is referred to as bacteremia.  These infection can cause thrombocyte destruction. A life-threatening condition, called sepsis (total infection), can develop from bacteremia.