redrose66 / June 19, 2015 / Health
Thrombocytosis (throm-boe-sie-TOE-sis) is a disorder in which your body produces too many platelets known as thrombocytes, which play an important role in blood clotting. The disorder is called reactive thrombocytosis when it’s caused by an underlying condition, such as an infection. Another medical term used for this condition or disorder is thrombocythemia.
In some patients the presence of high platelet counts in the blood, and can be either caused by a Myeloproliferative Disease. Although often symptomless, it can prompt thrombosis in some patients. Thrombosis can be defined as coagulation or clotting of the blood in a part of the circulatory system.
Normally platelets in the blood range from 150,000 – 450,000 platelets per micro liter (mcL). When the platelets exceed 750,000 (and especially over a million) they are considered serious enough to warrant an investigation and intervention.
Thrombocytosis may also be caused by a blood and bone marrow disease. When caused by a bone marrow disorder, thrombocytosis is called autonomous, primary or essential thrombocytosis or essential thrombocythemia.
Your doctor may detect thrombocytosis in routine blood test results that show a high platelet level. If your blood test indicates thrombocytosis, it’s important for your doctor to determine whether it’s reactive thrombocytosis or if you have thrombocythemia, which is more likely to cause blood clots.
What are the signs and symptoms of thrombocytosis?
(Most patients do not experience any symptoms of an increased platelet count).
- Skin bruising or bleeding from various sites such as the nose, mouth, and gums, or the stomach and intestinal tract.
- Abnormal blood clotting can also occur, leading to Stroke, Heart Attack, and unusual clots in the blood vessels of the abdomen.
- Headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Chest pain
- Weakness
- Fainting
- Temporary vision changes
- Numbness or tingling of the hands and feet
How do you know if you have thrombocytosis?
- Standard blood test or lab work
- Bone morrow sample
What can cause “reactive thrombocytosis”?
- Bone marrow — spongy tissue inside your bones — contains stem cells that can become red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets.
- Acute bleeding and blood loss
- Allergic reactions
- Cancer
- Chronic Kidney Failure or another Kidney Disorder
- Exercise
- Heart Attack
- Infections
- Iron Deficiency Anemia — too few healthy red blood cells due to too little iron in the body
- Splenectomy — Removal of the spleen
- Hemolytic Anemia — a type of anemia in which the body destroys red blood cells faster than it produces them, often due to certain blood diseases or autoimmune disorders
- Inflammation, such as from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Celiac Disease, Connective Tissue Disorders or Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Major surgery
- Pancreatitis
- Trauma
What Medications that can cause reactive thrombocytosis?
- Epinephrine (Adrenalin Chloride, EpiPen)
- Tretinoin
- Vincristine
What diseases or disorders can cause thrombocytosis?
- Kawasaki Disease
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma
- Osteosarcoma
- Dermatitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Nephritis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Bacterial Diseases including Pneumonia, Sepsis, Meningitis, Urinary Tract Infections and Septic Arthritis
What are the treatments for thrombocytosis?
- Routine doctor visits with your physician
- Treatment for reactive thrombocytosis is directed at the underlying cause.
What are some additional concerns or information to be noted?
- Removal of your spleen may cause lifelong thrombocytosis. In that case, your doctor may prescribe low-dose aspirin to help prevent bleeding or blood-clotting incidents, although these occur rarely in reactive thrombocytosis.
- If a recent surgery or an injury that caused significant blood loss is the cause, your elevated platelet count may not last long. In most cases, your platelet count will return to normal after the underlying cause is resolved.
- If the cause is a chronic infection or an inflammatory disease, your platelet count may remain high until the condition is brought under control.
Copyright © 2015 by Josephine Rojas. All rights reserved.
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