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Low
Blood Counts
> Anemia | Neutropenia
| Thrombocytopenia
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Low
Platelets | Causes | Quick Reference
| Resources & Research News  PubMed
TOPIC SEARCH: General
| Chemo-related
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 Low
platelets (thrombocytopenia) is a decreased number of platelets in the blood.
Causes: Low platelets is
a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments for
lymphoma and other cancers.
It may be caused by decreased
platelet production by the bone marrow (due to lymphoma in the
marrow or damage to the marrow); increased trapping of platelets by
the spleen; or a more rapid than normal destruction of platelets.
Persons with this condition easily bruise and can
have episodes of excess bleeding (a hemorrhage). See
conditions
that can cause thrombocytopenia below,
and tips for preventing problems associated with
this condition.
Signs &
symptoms: Thrombocytopenia
can cause an increased susceptibility to bleeding, as platelets are
essential to blood clotting.
According to the Merck Manual, "bleeding in the skin may be the first sign of a low platelet count. Many tiny red dots often appear in the skin on the lower legs, and minor injuries may cause small scattered bruises. The gums may bleed, and blood may appear in the stool or urine. Menstrual periods may be unusually heavy. Bleeding may be hard to stop."
Merck
Manual
Diagnosis of unexplained
thrombocytopenia: "Oehendrick.org
If you have a low platelet count, and are in need
of treatment, it may be necessary for you to have
a platelet transfusion. See for details: cancerbackup.org.uk
Some tips for preventing problems associated with low platelets:
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Avoid medications, such as aspirin, and herbal
supplements, such as fish oil, vitamin E, and Ginko) that may thin
the blood or contribute to bleeding.
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Avoid alcoholic beverages.
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Use a very soft toothbrush when cleaning teeth;
and avoid brushing vigorously.
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When cleaning your nose avoid blowing your nose,
or blow very gently into a soft
tissue.
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Try to avoid injury when using tools, scissors,
needles, knives, or when shaving.
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When shaving use an electric shaver instead of a
razor. Add corn starch to skin before shaving with it. |
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Take extra care when preparing foods or using
appliances that can burn.
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Avoid or curtail activities that might result in
injury, including sexual activity.
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Many conditions can cause thrombocytopenia:
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Radiation therapy or chemotherapy destroys
megakaryocytic, the precursor cells that produce platelets in the
bone marrow. Topic search: Medscape |
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Genetic abnormalities,
may impair production of normal platelets. |
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A cancer, such as
lymphoma, in the bone marrow inhibits adequate production of
platelets. |
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Aplastic anemia can
impair platelet production. |
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Certain drugs, especially thiazide diuretics or alcohol, depresses production of
precursor cells that produce platelets in the bone marrow. |
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Short-term low
platelets is also associated with some viral infection. |
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Autoimmune disease
called Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) can cause the
body to destroy platelets. Other autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), polyarteritis and dermatomyositis,
can cause thrombocytopenia. |
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In individuals with AIDS, thrombocytopenia commonly appears before other symptoms. |
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Drug-induced thrombocytopenia can be caused by any medication commercially available, but somewhat frequently by valproic acid (Depakote), gold salts, heparin (Calciparine, Liquaemin) and several other medications. For example, |
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Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) —
a rare disease that causes low platelets, in addition to a variety of other symptoms and complications.
See itppeople.com |
acor.org |
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"Individuals with
liver disease develop a large spleen. As this process occurs
platelets are trapped with in the sinusoids (small pathways within
the spleen) of the spleen. While the trapping of platelets is a
normal function for the spleen, in liver disease it becomes
exaggerated because of the enlarged spleen (splenomegaly).
Subsequently, the platelet count may become
diminished." - http://www.gastromd.com/lft.html |
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Abnormalities in the spleen, such as cancer,
cirrhosis, or Gaucher's disease, may cause abnormal amounts of platelets
to be taken up by the spleen, which under normal conditions
contains about one-third of the platelets in
the body. |
Recommended Resources:
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Managing Low Platelets - lrcc.on.ca
Excellent guidelines provided here.
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Platelet Transfusion for Patients With Cancer - ASCO.org
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Related Topics:
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Low
platelets
Quick Reference
(Thrombocytopenia)
Makes you susceptible to bleeding
Approximate normal range:
130-400 (x109/l)
Normal range may vary for different labs
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Resources
& Research News
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Platelets: Thrombotic
Thrombocytopenic Purpura - Comprehensive review - asheducationbook.org
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Hemoglobin blood test - MedlinePlus
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Autoimmune thrombocytopenia associated with the first cycle of
fludarabine therapy in the treatment of relapsed non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma - PubMed
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B-cell depletion with rituximab as treatment for immune
hemolytic anemia and chronic thrombocytopenia. Haematologica. 2002
Feb;87(2):189-95. PMID: 11836170 - PubMed
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ITP - Immune (Idiopathic) Trombocytopenic Purpura - itppeople.com |
acor.org
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Help with platelet recovery? Use of
physiological doses of human growth hormone in haematological
patients receiving intensive chemotherapy promotes haematopoietic
recovery: a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled study PubMed
2007
Treatment with hGH in physiological doses improves platelet
recovery, but is not associated with a lower relapse rate or
improved anthropometric parameters in patients receiving intensive
chemotherapy.
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