Muskan

· 19 Dec 2021

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What are platelets?

Platelets are one of three types of blood cells that develop in the bone marrow from cells known as megakaryocytes (together with red and white blood cells). Adhesion is the process through which platelets join together to create a clot.  Let us understand what are platelets with the help of an example.

For instance, if you get an injury in your finger and break a blood vessel, it will begin to bleed. Platelets within the broken vessel attach to the site of injury and send out chemical signals for extra support to stop the bleeding. In a process known as aggregation, more platelets respond to the signal and begin to link with one another to create a plug. The clotting (coagulation) cascade is initiated after a plug or clot forms in the blood vessel wall, which then adds fibrin (a structural protein) to the clot to knit it together. Fibrin is the substance that causes the scab that appears after a cut. Platelets are also known as thrombocytes. A thrombus is a term used by doctors to describe a blood clot. Platelets live for 8 to 10 days after being created and circulating in your bloodstream.

Platelet count
●    Low range: Less than 150,000 platelets per microliter
●    Normal range: 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter1
●    Elevated range: 500,000 to 1,000,000 platelets per microliter
One could experience prolonged bleeding following an injury, in case the platelet count goes below 50,000.

Causes Low platelet count
When a body does not have enough platelets in circulation, the condition is called Thrombocytopenia. Causes of low platelets are as follow:
●    Chemotherapy and radiation therapy reduce or kill the blood-producing cells (megakaryocytes) in your bone marrow, resulting in a reduction in platelet formation.
●    Hepatitis C or HIV infections can alter thrombocyte production by attacking the bone marrow.
●    Pregnancy: HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, high liver enzymes, low platelet count syndrome) is a type of pre-eclampsia that causes the breakdown of blood cells and platelets.
●    Mechanical heart valves, heparin antibodies, prolonged alcohol misuse, liver disease, severe sepsis, and chemical exposures are all examples of situations that might cause thrombocytopenia.

Causes of high platelet count
When a body has an excess of platelets in circulation, the condition is termed as Thrombocytosis. Causes of high platelets are as follow:
●    Thrombocytosis is a primary bone marrow illness in which the megakaryocytes in the bone marrow create too many platelets, increasing the risk of blood clots.
●    Infection: To aid in the battle against infection, bone marrow cells increase the synthesis of white blood cells and platelets, increasing platelet count.
●    Iron deficiency anaemia -Reactive or secondary thrombocytosis can occur as a result of the body's breakdown of red blood cells, causing bone marrow cells to overproduce to suit the body's needs.
●    Cancer, particularly gastrointestinal cancer, as well as lymphoma, lung, ovarian, and breast cancer, can all have high platelet counts. This is assumed to be because the inflammation caused by cancer stimulates platelet creation in the bone marrow.
●    Furthermore, following significant surgery or trauma, a transient increase in platelet count might occur.

A change in platelet count could indicate a persistent disease or a problem with the bone marrow. However, a medical issue cannot usually be diagnosed only on the basis of platelet count. If a blood test reveals high or low platelets, you should consult a doctor for further testing. Any other symptoms should be mentioned to the doctor so that he could narrow down the testing choices accordingly.