What Causes Low Platelets?
Low platelet count, also known as thrombocytopenia, can stem from various factors. It occurs when your bone marrow doesn't produce enough platelets, or when your body destroys platelets faster than it produces them.
Several conditions and factors can lead to low platelet counts:
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Bone Marrow Issues: Conditions affecting bone marrow, such as aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, leukemia, and other bone marrow cancers, can significantly reduce platelet production. (Yale Medicine, Canadian Cancer Society, Cleveland Clinic)
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Infections: Viral or bacterial infections can sometimes suppress platelet production or increase their destruction. (Mayo Clinic, WebMD)
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Medications: Certain medications, including some antibiotics, anti-seizure drugs, and chemotherapy agents, can contribute to thrombocytopenia. (Mayo Clinic, NHLBI, NIH)
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Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions like Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) involve the immune system mistakenly attacking and destroying platelets. (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
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Inherited or Acquired Bleeding Disorders: Genetic disorders affecting blood clotting can lead to low platelet counts. (Mayo Clinic)
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Enlarged Spleen: An enlarged spleen can trap and destroy platelets, resulting in a lower platelet count. (Mayo Clinic)
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Liver Disease: The liver plays a crucial role in platelet production; liver disease can impair this function. (Mayo Clinic)
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Cancer: Certain cancers, such as liver cancer, leukemias, lymphomas, can directly or indirectly cause low platelet counts. (American Cancer Society)
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Immune Deficiencies: Inherited or acquired immune deficiencies can also contribute to thrombocytopenia. (Mayo Clinic)
Understanding Platelets
Platelets are tiny blood cells essential for blood clotting. A low platelet count increases the risk of excessive bleeding or bruising.
