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What Causes Low Platelet Count?
Question: What is the cause of losing platelets? Will medication stop this process or can it be reverse?
Thanks.
What are the symptoms that the problem is worse?
Thanks.
What are the symptoms that the problem is worse?
Brief Answer:
there are many causes, some of them can be treated
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
here is a list of potential causes (not exhaustive) :
- autoimmune disorders like idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or along with diseases like lupus.
- serious infections
- myelodysplastic syndrome
- vitamin B12 deficiency
- thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic-uremic syndrome
- various drugs
- blood diseases like leukemia
- chemotherapy
- toxins (like alcohol for example)
- enlarged spleen
- falsely low count for technical reasons
Depending on the cause, the platelet count can be reversed back to normal. For example in vitamin B12 deficiency, supplementation with B12 will reverse the blood abnormalities. Effective treatment of leukemia will reverse the low platelet count. The same applies for other conditions like the idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) which can be treated with corticosteroids (not always effective).
In other cases (like an advanced myelodysplastic syndrome) the platelets cannot easily get back to normal, since there is no effective treatment.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
there are many causes, some of them can be treated
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
here is a list of potential causes (not exhaustive) :
- autoimmune disorders like idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or along with diseases like lupus.
- serious infections
- myelodysplastic syndrome
- vitamin B12 deficiency
- thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic-uremic syndrome
- various drugs
- blood diseases like leukemia
- chemotherapy
- toxins (like alcohol for example)
- enlarged spleen
- falsely low count for technical reasons
Depending on the cause, the platelet count can be reversed back to normal. For example in vitamin B12 deficiency, supplementation with B12 will reverse the blood abnormalities. Effective treatment of leukemia will reverse the low platelet count. The same applies for other conditions like the idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) which can be treated with corticosteroids (not always effective).
In other cases (like an advanced myelodysplastic syndrome) the platelets cannot easily get back to normal, since there is no effective treatment.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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