blood disorders
Overview of Thrombocytopenia
Introduction
Thrombocytopenia is a low number of platelets (thrombocytes) in the blood, which increases the risk of bleeding. Thrombocytopenia occurs when the bone marrow makes too few platelets or when too many platelets are destroyed or accumulate within an enlarged spleen. Bleeding in the skin and bruising occur. Doctors use blood tests to make the diagnosis and determine the cause. Sometimes treatment (such as platelet transfusion,prednisoneand drugs to increase platelet production, or removal of the spleen) is needed. (See also Overview of Platelet Disorders .) Platelets are cells produced in the bone marrow that circulate in the bloodstream and help How Blood Clots . The blood usually contains about 140,000 to 440,000 platelets per microliter (140 to 440 × 10 