Thrombocytopenia is a condition where you have a low platelet count in your blood. Platelets are tiny blood cell fragments that help your blood to clot. A low platelet count can cause easy bruising, bleeding gums, and internal bleeding.
There are many reasons why a person might have thrombocytopenia. Some of the most common causes include:
- Bone marrow disorders: Conditions like aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome can affect the bone marrow's ability to produce platelets.
- Leukemia or other bone marrow cancer: These cancers can crowd out the healthy cells in the bone marrow, leading to a decrease in platelet production.
- Infection of the bone marrow: Infections can damage the bone marrow and reduce its ability to produce platelets.
- Viral infections: Certain viruses, such as HIV, hepatitis C, Ebstein-Barr virus, parvovirus, mumps, varicella, rubella, and Zika virus, can cause thrombocytopenia.
- Liver cirrhosis: This condition damages the liver, which can lead to decreased platelet production.
- Hepatitis C: This viral infection can damage the liver, leading to a decrease in platelet production.
- HIV: This virus can damage the bone marrow, leading to a decrease in platelet production.
- Bacterial sepsis: This serious infection can cause widespread inflammation and damage to the bone marrow, leading to decreased platelet production.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and chemotherapy drugs, can also cause thrombocytopenia.
- Autoimmune disorders: In these disorders, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own platelets.
It's important to note that thrombocytopenia can also be caused by a combination of factors.
[Blood Disorder]
