Platelets are a group of blood cells, also called platelets. In routine blood tests performed in health institutions or in health screenings for any reason, platelet measurement is often included in the test called hemogram. For this reason, platelets can be seen as the other name of platelets (PLT) as a result of many blood tests. The platelet count may increase or decrease due to various diseases, just like other blood cells such as erythrocytes and leukocytes. Since this provides important information in the diagnosis of diseases, almost all blood tests include blood count alone or in addition to different tests.
What is Platelet (PLT)?
The question of what platelets mean, platelets or as a type of blood cell group also known as platelets. Platelets produced in the bone marrow take on important tasks for the execution of various chemical reactions in the blood. In many cases such as blood clotting, repair of vascular damage and healing of wounds, platelets differentiate in various ways and provide immediate closure of the trauma. Thus, while preventing blood loss, the necessary environment for the repair of damaged tissues is prepared. If the platelet count is lower than normal, blood vessels will be prone to injury and bleeding, so excessive blood loss may occur in injuries, wound healing may be delayed, and blood clotting time will be prolonged.
What is the Normal Value of Platelet (PLT)?
The platelet count can vary significantly from person to person and from day to day. However, the average platelet count in healthy adult individuals is expected to be between 150,000 and 450,000 cells/mL. Therefore, the question of what should be the PLT value can be answered as between 150 and 450 thousand platelets. Many factors such as various diseases, some drugs used, age, gender and pregnancy status can cause changes in these values. Therefore, the platelet count in the blood results should be evaluated by the physician in a way that is specific to the individual. In some cases, lows and heights close to the border do not constitute any negativity. However, in case of significant low and high platelet count, the cause of this problem should be investigated. is.
What is Low Platelet (PLT)?
A platelet value lower than 150,000 cells/mL in the blood count is called low PLT in the blood. Another name for this condition is thrombocytopenia. There may be many health problems underlying the low platelet value in the blood. In cases such as decreased platelet production, increased platelet destruction, and the blood being more dilute than normal, thrombocytopenia may occur as the number of platelets in the unit blood will decrease. In addition to some diseases, some drugs used, nutrition or some treatments may have a lowering effect on platelet count.
Causes of Low Platelet Level
There are many conditions that can lead to this situation in patients with low platelet count. . Some of these are as follows:
- Various diseases, acute or chronic
- Pregnancy
- Blood transfusion
- Sepsis (blood poisoning seen by the mixing of microorganisms into the bloodstream condition)
- Side effects of some drugs used
- Anemia due to deficiency of folic acid or vitamin B12
- Aplastic anemia
- Immunological or rheumatological diseases
- Various types of cancer (especially hematological cancers)
- Long-term and excessive use of alcohol
- Poisoning, exposure to toxic substances or radiation
- Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
- Bone marrow related diseases
- Viral infections
Low Platelet Symptoms
When the PLT values in the blood decrease, this may cause various symptoms in the person. The lower the platelet count, the more severe the symptoms are usually felt. Some signs of thrombocytopenia include:
- Purple, red, or brownish bruising or color changes in various parts of the body
- Intermittent bleeding from the nose and gums
- Delayed wound healing
- Difficulty of blood clotting
- Red or purple spots on the skin (Petechiae)
- Blood in the urine
- Blood from the anus , bloody stools or black stools (melena) appearance
- Bloody vomit (Hematemesis)
- Internal bleedings
Treatment of Low Platelet Thrombocyte
For the treatment of low platelet count, the cause or health problem leading to this condition must first be determined exactly. If there are no problems such as bleeding or petechiae in mild thrombocytopenia, no treatment may be required, and in this case, follow-up is usually recommended. In severe thrombocytopenia, the main purpose of treatment is to prevent bleeding and the risks associated with coagulation disorders. A treatment plan is determined against the underlying disease in low platelet count caused by diseases. In cases of low platelet count caused by the drugs used, methods such as changing the drug or applying different treatments to increase the platelet count may be preferred. In case of severe thrombocythemia, treatment methods such as blood or platelet transplantation, removal of the spleen (Splenectomy), use of corticosteroid-containing drugs can also be applied. is the case when the number of cells is higher than 450,000 cells/mL. In the development of this condition called platelet elevation or thrombocytosis, the tendency to clot in the blood increases, just the opposite of thrombocytopenia. Problems in the mechanisms related to the regulation of the production and amount of blood cells or hormonal balance may cause an increase in platelet production. Similarly, some drugs used or various diseases in the person may be effective in increasing the platelet count.
Causes of High Platelet Level
There are various reasons that can lead to high platelet count or thrombocytosis. Some of these are as follows:
- Increased platelet ratio due to the decrease in the fluid ratio in the blood (condensed blood)
- Excessive platelet production physiologically
- Due to iron deficiency increased platelet production
- Losing the function of the spleen involved in platelet destruction or removal of the spleen by splenectomy
- Tumors in the bone marrow
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Rheumatic diseases
- Various types of cancer
- Hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells)
- Some used drugs
Platelet High Symptoms
High PLT levels in the blood usually do not cause any symptoms in people. Therefore, in most cases it is detected incidentally in blood count results. If there is a serious thrombocytosis condition, the patient may experience various symptoms such as dizziness, headache, chest pain, visual disturbances, swelling of the hands and feet, numbness, swelling of the spleen and itching. Due to the high platelet count, coagulation problems may occur in various parts of the body, and the symptoms are concentrated in the region where the coagulation occurs. Since these coagulations can also occur in the heart and brain vessels, there are risks such as heart attack and stroke in severe thrombocytosis. For this reason, it is very important to apply medical treatment in significant platelet elevations.
Treatment of Platelet Elevation
As long as platelet elevation is not severe, it does not cause any symptoms in patients and if it is detected by chance, it is very important. Follow-up is usually recommended. However, in long-lasting or very severe thrombocytosis, detailed investigations should be conducted on the cause of this condition and treatment should be applied if deemed necessary by the physician. Since there are serious risks such as heart attack and stroke with excessive platelet elevation, platelet count should be reduced by treatment called platelet pheresis or thrombophoresis in such cases. In platelet elevations that develop due to diseases, a treatment plan should be started after the underlying disease is determined.
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