Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which the number of platelets in the blood decreases to below normal. Platelets are small cells that play an important role in blood clotting and preventing bleeding. Decreasing their amount can lead to various problems with blood clotting and bleeding.

One of the main characteristics of thrombocytopenia is the appearance of subcutaneous hemorrhages, which can appear as spots of various sizes and colors on the skin. This condition is called purpura. In addition, thrombocytopenia may cause spontaneous bruising and prolonged bleeding after injury or injection.

The cause of thrombocytopenia can be either the formation of an insufficient number of platelets or their excessive destruction. For example, insufficient platelet production may be caused by dysfunction of the bone marrow, which is responsible for producing blood cells. Thrombocytopenia can also be caused by autoimmune diseases, in which the body's immune system is directed against its own cells, including platelets.

Diagnosis of thrombocytopenia includes a history, physical examination, blood tests, and sometimes a bone marrow biopsy. Treatment for thrombocytopenia depends on the cause and may include drugs that stimulate platelet production, platelet transfusions, or immunotherapy.

Thrombocytopenia can be complicated by bleeding, so it is important to consult a doctor promptly if suspicious symptoms appear. Early detection and treatment of thrombocytopenia can significantly improve the patient's prognosis and quality of life.

Platelets are an integral part of our blood circulation. These are blood cells that are involved in the formation of blood clots and prevent bleeding. If their number is significantly reduced, then frequent bruising is possible. Thrombocythemia (also known as thrombocytosis) is an increase in the number of blood cells. In parallel with this, the ability of blood to clot is often increased. Most often, this disorder occurs in children and adolescents who have not gone through puberty. The reasons are varied, the most common of them: 1) Formation of benign tumors of the immune system in the bone marrow (chondromyeloid sarcoma); 2) Insufficient production of thymus hormones; 3) Pituitary tumors; 4) Hyperplasia of the thyroid gland; 5) Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. **Varieties.** There are several forms of thrombocythemia: primary, secondary and symptomatic. Primary thrombocytosis is directly related to bone marrow damage and occurs in some diseases. Often accompanied by an increase in the level of eosinophils in the bloodstream. Multiple sources of cancer, such as Ewing's sarcomas and hepatocellular adenocarcinoma, provoke pathology. Less commonly, symptomatic thrombocytosis is a sign of arterial hypertension, myeloid leukemia and Cushing's syndrome. A secondary type of thrombocytosis is observed when the body loses fluid, increases the activity of the endocrine glands, infections and as a result of some other natural processes.

In all the variety of causes of platelet imbalance, there is not one that is most accurate. On the one hand, it can be observed in autoimmune processes, inflammatory pathologies of the liver or spleen. Mostly, secondary thrombocytosis is diagnosed in the adult population. Aggravating circumstances and risk factors include senility, a history of viral sore throat, exposure to stressful situations, and an active lifestyle. However, physiological platelet growth is also observed. **Treatment.** Therapy is aimed at reducing and normalizing the platelet count. Drug treatments are most effective when the cause of the platelet imbalance is unclear. The selection of drugs is carried out individually. Conservative treatment of coagulopathies includes anti-infectives, antibacterial drugs, urokinase, anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents.

> Platelets Platelets are very small cells. > If there are a lot of them in your blood, then the blood is ready for donation. In general, platelets perform several functions. The most important of them are stopping bleeding and healing wounds. Due to tissue damage, blood vessels rupture and not only blood appears in the bloodstream, but also fibrin, a protein that forms blood clots that heal the damage. So the main function of platelets is to ensure the correct course of the coagulation process. If there are too few platelets, they simply will not have time to stop the bleeding or it will continue longer because there are not enough blood clots to stop it quickly. This, in turn, can lead to more serious consequences if the situation is not treated immediately, for example, to the separation of a blood clot and blockage of a vessel, which is dangerous for the development of a heart attack or stroke.

Thrombocytopenia is a condition of decreased platelet concentration less than 150×109/L in combination with an increased risk of bleeding. The danger of a low platelet count is that the body is unable to stop even minor wounds that can occur from bruises or trauma. When cuts occur, rapid blood clotting does not occur. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the body's resistance to infections is also reduced. Monitoring the state of the immune system shows that if exposed to a pathological factor, it becomes suppressed and unable to resist foreign agents. With a significant decrease in the number of platelets, especially in newborns and children of the first years of life, sinus tachycardia may develop. And such signs as purple rashes on the skin - bruises, sudden and easily bleeding wounds, subcutaneous hematomas lead to a sharp deterioration in the general condition and often the development of septic complications. It is very important to promptly determine the cause of thrombocytopenia. That is why