Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia (short: thrombocytopenia ) refers to a lack of platelets ( platelets) in your blood. The person usually has about 150000-450000 platelets per microliter of blood; this value is exceeded, it is called thrombocytopenia.

However, the human body will tolerate much lower platelet counts without significant damage or deficits. When it comes to symptoms, the patient noted inter alia that bleeding injuries take longer than usual before they come to a standstill. The measured bleeding time exceeds the standard value (> 6 minutes). The partial thromboplastin time ( PTT) is not affected by thrombocytopenia, since among other things, for this laboratory investigation of the platelet -derived phospholipid ( obsolete: platelet factor 3) is added. Only with a platelet count < 10/nl ( = < 10,000 / ul) can cause spontaneous bleeding.

To replace platelets, ie add the bloodstream by means of a transfusion, is a very expensive medical procedure with a risk of incompatibility reactions and the transmission of infections and is considered necessary in only a few indications. Such may be thrombocytopenia during chemotherapy treatment, for example. In other cases, an increase in platelet count by Rezeptorbeinflussung be achieved by, for example, eltrombopag. The opposite of thrombocytopenia thrombocytosis. Functional disorders of the platelets are referred to as thrombocytopenia.

Causes

Possible triggering factors for thrombocytopenia are

  • Hematological Disorders eg leukemias
  • Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura ( TTP)
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenia ( see also Werlhof's disease )
  • Antiphospholipid syndrome
  • Falciparum malaria
  • Fifth disease virus
  • Epstein -Barr virus
  • Helicobacter pylori ( bacterial infection of the stomach ).

A distinction is

  • Pseudothrombopenia (false measurement by aggregation in EDTA reagent, correct values ​​by measurement with citrate )

Symptoms

Typical of thrombocytopenia are petechial hemorrhages. These are fine petechial -like bleeding directly into the subcutaneous tissue. Besides, it can spontaneously arising bruising ( hematoma) or to come heaped nose or gum bleeding.

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia Heparin Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia Platelet Derived Growth Factor Spleen Epstein–Barr virus
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