Thrombocytopenia

Question 1

Thrombocytopenia Definition

Answer 1

• Low blood platelet count
• Patient has fewer than 150,000 platelets
• Prognosis depends on the case — mild cases can resolve on their own while severe cases can be life threatening if not treated
• Diagnosed through blood test

Question 2

Thrombocytopenia Signs/Symptoms

Answer 2

• Easy or excessive bruising
• Prolonged bleeding from cuts
• Blood in urine or stools
• Unusually heavy menstrual flows
• Fatigue
• Enlarged spleen
• Superficial bleeding into skin that appears as rash of pinpoint sized reddish-purple dots usually on legs — called Petechiae

Question 3

Thrombocytopenia Causes

Answer 3

• Enlarged spleen — normally spleen works to fight infection and filter unwanted material in body, with an enlarged spleen there is too many platelets
• Cancer or chemo
• Anemia
• Viral infections
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Idiopathic
• Bone marrow disorders
• Immune system disorders
• Meds (heparin, aspirin)

Question 4

Thrombocytopenia Treatment

Answer 4

• Medications — corticosteroids
• Transfusions for severe cases
• Addressing underlying disease