Did You Know? Megakaryocytes present in the bone marrow form and release platelets, colorless cell components, into the bloodstream. A complex sequence of remodeling events is required to produce platelets by megakaryocytes, which release thousands of platelets from a single megakaryocyte.
Blood platelets, or thrombocytes, are tiny, disc-shaped cells in our blood that form clots to stop bleeding. Though small, they play a pivotal role in our bodies. When your blood platelet count drops below normal levels, it results in a condition called thrombocytopenia, wherein you have an increased risk of excessive bleeding, even from minor injuries.
This article explores how low blood platelet count increases your risk of bleeding and gives an overview of treatment options for a specific condition called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).
Understanding Platelets and Their Role in Blood Clotting
Platelets (Thrombocytes) are essential components of the blood clotting process. Whenever you get a bruise, internal or external, a blood vessel is injured, and platelets are activated. These platelets clump together to form a clot, sealing the wound and preventing blood loss.
Here's a simplified breakdown of the clotting process:
Blood Vessel Injury: When a blood vessel is damaged, the lining of the vessel is disrupted.
Platelet Activation: Platelets are attracted to the site of injury and become activated.
Platelet Aggregation: Activated platelets get together to form a plug at the wound site.
Coagulation and Clotting: Fibrin, a protein produced by the blood, forms a mesh around the platelets. It fortifies the clot and prevents further loss of blood from the body.
What is Thrombocytopenia?
Thrombocytopenia occurs when there are too few platelets circulating in the blood. Platelets are produced in the bone marrow and have a lifespan of about 7 to 10 days. Various factors can contribute to thrombocytopenia, including certain medications, autoimmune disorders, acquired or generic bleeding disorders, certain infections such as Hepatitis C, diseases of the liver, and cancer.
With this arises the primary question:
How does a Low Platelet Count Increase Bleeding Risk?
If your blood platelet count is low, there aren't enough platelets available to form a proper clot, leading to an increased risk of bleeding. This can lead to:
Easy Bruising / Fragile Blood Vessels: When platelet levels are low, blood vessels become more fragile and prone to damage, increasing the likelihood of bleeding. Even minor bumps or scratches can cause easy bruising because the platelets can't form a clot to seal the tiny blood vessels that are damaged.
Prolonged Bleeding: With fewer platelets available, it takes longer for the blood to form clots at the site of an injury. Minor cuts may take longer to stop bleeding due to this delay in clot formation.
Bleeding from Mucous Membranes: You might experience nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or blood in your stool or urine.
Internal Bleeding: In severe cases of thrombocytopenia, internal bleeding can occur in the brain, stomach, or intestines. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
What are the Causes of Low Blood Platelet Count?
We now know that platelets, minute yet crucial components of your blood, play a vital role in maintaining hemostasis, the body's natural ability to control bleeding.
Here's where things get concerning. If you experience unexplained bruising, excessive bleeding, or even nosebleeds, it could be a sign your platelets are struggling. Lets look into the three fundamental mechanisms that contribute to low platelet count:
Insufficient Platelet Production: The bone marrow, responsible for blood cell production, may not be generating enough platelets. This deficiency renders the body vulnerable to even minor injuries leading to prolonged bleeding.
Example: Certain cancers and their treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can damage the bone marrow, which is responsible for producing platelets.
Increased Platelet Destruction: In some instances, particularly in the case of autoimmune disorders, the body's immune system malfunctions, mistakenly identifying platelets as foreign invaders. It then begins attacking them and accelerates their destruction, significantly leading to a depletion in the available platelet pool.
Splenic Sequestration: Your spleen acts as a filter in your body, but sometimes, it can get a little overzealous and trap your platelets, reducing their circulation and ability to perform their function.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP): A Specific Cause of Low Platelet Count
ITP is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the bodys immune system overhypes and mistakenly attacks and destroys platelets, causing a decrease in their count. This leads to improper clotting and increased bleeding in injuries.
This instance of isolated thrombocytopenia or low platelet count in the body has no validated clinical cause. Primary ITP is known to occur in adults, while secondary ITP is found in children after a viral infection or in individuals whose platelet count is impacted by an underlying disorder such as drug-induced or systemic illness-induced (e.g., SLE, HIV, CVID, etc.). Any other disease or disorder does not cause primary ITP, and secondary ITP occurs due to another underlying cause or disorder.
Symptoms of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura can include:
Easy or excessive bruising
Petechiae (tiny red or purple spots on the skin caused by bleeding)
Bleeding from the gums or nose
Blood in the stool or urine
Nosebleeds that occur often and require a lengthy amount of time to stop
Frequent instances of internal bleeding
Prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding
Treatment Options for ITP
Treatment for ITP depends on the severity of your condition and your overall health. Sometimes, no treatment is necessary if the platelet count is mildly low and you don't have any bleeding symptoms.
Here are some standard treatment options for ITP:
Medications like corticosteroids can suppress the immune system and reduce platelet destruction.
Example: Revolade 25mg Eltrombopag Tablets help address ITP by promoting platelet production and reducing the risk of severe and prolonged bleeding in such patients.
In severe cases of ITP that don't respond to other treatments, surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy) may be an option. The spleen filters blood cells, and removing it can help increase platelet count.
Treatment with Revolade 25mg Eltrombopag Tablets:
Revolade 25mg tablet is a medication used to treat thrombocytopenia in adults with ITP, chronic hepatitis C infection, and severe aplastic anemia. It belongs to a class of drugs called thrombopoietin receptor agonists. Revolade works by stimulating the production of platelets by the bone marrow.
Revolade Table Uses: It treats and manages Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), Thrombocytopenia in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients, and severe aplastic Anemia. In these cases, managing thrombocytopenia is essential to reduce the risk of bleeding complications. Eltrombopag 25mg Tablets may be prescribed to increase platelet counts and improve overall clotting function.
Bottom Line:
Low blood platelet count significantly increases the risk of injuries and bleeding, making it essential to address thrombocytopenia through appropriate treatment strategies. Medications like Revolade (Eltrombopag) are generally prescribed to treat such conditions, thus helping to restore normal platelet levels and reduce the risk of bleeding-related complications.
Remember, consult your doctor immediately if you experience any symptoms of low platelets, such as easy bruising or non-stop bleeding. Early diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause of thrombocytopenia is crucial to prevent complications.
