Thrombopenia, or thrombopenia, refers to a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, a situation that makes clotting difficult and can cause symptoms such as red or purple spots on the skin, bleeding gums or nose, and red urine, for example.
Platelets are essential components of the blood for clotting, which facilitate wound healing and prevent bleeding. However, there are several situations that can lead to a decrease in the number of platelets, such as infections, such as dengue, use of drugs, such as heparin, immunity-related diseases such as thrombocytopenic purpura, and even cancer.
- Treatment of weak platelets should be done according to their cause.
- By the family doctor or hematologist.
- And may only be necessary to control the cause.
- Medication use or.
- In very severe cases.
- Platelet transfusion.
See other important platelet changes and what to do
Platelets are weak when the blood formula has less than 150,000 blood cells/mm3 and, in most cases, do not cause symptoms. However, the person may have a higher tendency to bleed and symptoms such as:
These symptoms can occur in anyone with low platelet levels, but are more common when they are very low, for example below 50,000 blood cells/mm3s, or when they are associated with another disease, such as dengue or cirrhosis, which makes the blood worse. coagulation function.
One of the most common diseases associated with platelet reduction is thrombocytopenic purpura. See what this disease is and how to treat it.
Platelets are produced in the bone marrow and live for about 10 days because they are constantly renewed. Factors that interfere with the number of platelets in your blood include:
Some situations can cause platelets to live less in the bloodstream, resulting in fewer plaques. Some of the main causes are:
Immune diseases tend to cause a more severe and persistent reduction of platelets than the use of drugs and infections. In addition, each person may have a different reaction, which varies depending on the immunity and response of the organism, so it is common to see people with weaker platelets in some cases of dengue than in others, for example.
Substances such as folic acid and vitamin B12 are essential for hematopoiesis, which is the process of forming blood cells. However, a lack of folic acid or vitamin B12 can lead to decreased production of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These deficiencies are common in non-nutritionally supported vegans, malnourished people, alcoholics, and people with diseases that cause underlying bleeding, such as the stomach or intestine.
Here are some tips on what to eat to avoid a folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency.
Some changes in spinal cord function result in decreased platelet production, which can occur for several reasons, such as:
It is common for these cases to also have anemia and a decrease in white blood cells in blood tests, as the bone marrow is responsible for the production of several blood components. Look for symptoms of leukemia and when to suspect.
The spleen is responsible for the elimination of several old blood cells, including platelets, and, if enlarged, as in cases of diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver, sarcoidosis and amylosis, for example, there may be a removal of still healthy cells. platelets, in a higher than normal amount.
In the presence of low platelets without a defined cause, it is important to think of certain situations, such as the error of the laboratory result, as platelet aggregation in the blood sample tube may occur, due to the presence of a reagent in the tube, and it is important to repeat the test in these cases.
Alcoholism can also lead to a reduction in platelets, as alcohol consumption, in addition to being toxic to blood cells, also affects bone marrow production.
During pregnancy, physiological thrombopenia may occur, by dilution of the blood by water retention, which is usually mild and disappears spontaneously after delivery.
In the presence of thrombopenia detected in the test, it is important to take certain precautions to avoid the risk of bleeding, such as avoiding heavy exertion or contact sports, avoiding alcohol consumption, and not using medications that affect platelet function or increase the risk of bleeding. , such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulants and ginkgo-biloba. Like what.
It is necessary to strengthen attention when platelets are below 50,000 cells/mm3 in the blood, and it is worrying when there are less than 20,000 cells/mm3 in the blood, in some cases hospitalization may be necessary for observation.
The diet should be balanced, rich in cereals, fruits, vegetables, vegetables and lean meats, to help with blood formation and body recovery.
Platelet transfusion is not always necessary, because with care and treatment, the person can recover or live. However, the doctor may give other indications in case of bleeding, when it is necessary to perform a certain type of surgery, when the platelets are less than 10,000 cells / mm3 in the blood or when they are less than 20,000 cells / mm3 in the blood. fever or chemotherapy, for example.
After determining why platelets are weak, your treatment will be directed, according to medical advice, and may be:
For cancer, treatment is done depending on the type and severity of the disease, with chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation for example.