Other times, the cancer itself causes the problem. Your platelet donation helps people like Olivia Stoy, a spunky 12 yr old fighting T lymphoblastic lymphoma. In a platelet-only donation, blood is drawn from your arm into a machine. The platelets are separated from the other blood components, which are returned to you through your other arm. This cycle repeats several times. Using this process, one donor can contribute what would normally be obtained from up to five whole blood donations — an amount that can help as many as three people.
Learn more about donating platelets and how it is different from a whole blood donation. Since platelets must be used within 5 days of donation, platelet donors are constantly needed. Making a platelet-only donation means your generosity can help one, two, or even three patients! What Are Platelets In Blood. Thrombocytopenia can also be caused by increased destruction of platelets once they are produced and released into the circulating blood. These disorders are the focus of this website.
They are described briefly here and in more detail in their specific sections on this website. Immune Thrombocytopenia ITP - This disorder, described in its own section on this website, is caused both by increased platelet destruction and also decreased bone marrow platelet production. These problems are caused by autoantibodies. Antibodies are proteins normally made by a type of white blood cells to react with and defend against foreign materials.
For example, antibodies are normally formed to bacteria and viruses, and help with the healing process. Antibodies are normally stimulated by immunization and vaccination, to prevent infections. Antibodies normally react with organ transplants and attempt to reject these transplants.
Autoantibodies are abnormal. These occur when antibody-producing cells receive mixed signals, and identify a normal body tissue as foreign and try to reject it. The term, autoantibody, means an antibody that reacts with the person herself, not foreign material.
The autoantibodies destroy the platelets rapidly after they are produced. The autoantibodies also react with the bone marrow megakaryocytes and inhibit platelet production.
The information included in this website is for educational purposes only. The designers and operators of this site take no responsibility for the things you may do with this information.
For advice on your unique medical condition, please consult your health care professional. By going further into this website you acknowledge that you have read and understood this disclaimer. Menu: Home. Thrombotic Microangiopathy. Complement-mediated TMA. Platelets In this section we introduce platelets themselves.
Platelets are the smallest of the three major types of blood cells. The normal platelet count is ,, per microliter of blood, but since platelets are so small, they make up just a tiny fraction of the blood volume. The principal function of platelets is to prevent bleeding.
Red blood cells are the most numerous blood cell, about 5,, per microliter. Their color is caused by hemoglobin, which accounts for nearly all of the red cell volume. Hemoglobin is the critical protein that transports oxygen from our lungs to the tissues. Red cells are normally shaped as round, biconcave discs. With microscopic examination, they look like a red or orange tire with a thin, almost transparent center. White blood cells are the largest of the blood cells but also the fewest.
There are only 5, to 10, white blood cells per microliter. There are several different types of white cells but all are related to immunity and fighting infection. Platelet Production Platelets are produced in the bone marrow, the same as the red cells and most of the white blood cells.
Platelet Structure Platelets are actually not true cells but merely circulating fragments of cells. Platelet Function In addition to being the smallest blood cell, platelets are also the lightest. Disorders of Platelet Function The most common disorder of platelet function is caused by aspirin. Disorders of Platelets Number: Too Many Platelets Rare conditions result in the bone marrow producing too many platelets, sometimes as many as one million or two million per microliter.
Almost all medications can cause bad allergic reactions in sensitive people, but these reactions are rare. Most commonly, drugs may cause a red rash in sensitive people. Drugs can also cause serious reactions with blood platelets. This lowers the platelet count by removing the blood, separating out the platelets, and returning the red blood cells back to the body. With secondary thrombocytosis, the symptoms are usually related to the associated condition.
For example, if you have an infection or anemia, you treat those conditions and the platelet count comes down. Symptoms include easy bruising, and frequent bleeding from the gums, nose, or GI tract. Your platelet count drops when something is preventing your body from producing platelets. There are a wide range of causes, including:. If you have too many platelets, it can increase your risk for clotting.
But often your cardiovascular risk has more to do with platelet function than platelet number. Too many platelets, too few platelets, abnormally functioning platelets, and related conditions such as blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks can be inherited. There is no concrete answer to that yet.
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