Thrombocytopenia

A condition in which there is a lower-than-normal number of platelets in the blood. It may result in easy bruising and excessive bleeding from wounds or bleeding in mucous membranes and other tissues.

Platelets (thrombocytes) are colorless blood cells that help blood clot. Platelets stop bleeding by clumping and forming plugs in blood vessel injuries.

A normal human platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. One common definition of thrombocytopenia requiring emergency treatment is a platelet count below 50,000 per microliter.

Signs and Symptoms

Thrombocytopenia signs and symptoms may include:

Easy or excessive bruising (purpura)
Superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as a rash of pinpoint-sized reddish-purple spots (petechiae), usually on the lower legs
Prolonged bleeding from cuts
Bleeding from your gums or nose
Blood in urine or stools
Unusually heavy menstrual flows
Fatigue
Enlarged spleen
Jaundice

Causes

Thrombocytopenia caused due to:

1. Increase platelet destruction due to-

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Sulfonamide antibiotics (Carbamazepine, Digoxin)
Heparin
Severe trauma

2. Decrease platelet production due to -

Chemotherapy
Viral infection (HCV, HIV)
Aplastic anemia
Bone marrow cancer
Long term alcohol intake