What to do if the large platelet ratio is low
Disease description:
My child has never been in great health, with a relatively low immune system, often catching colds and fevers. After treatment, the condition tends to recur easily. Moreover, blood tests show a low platelet count. What should we do?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
A low large platelet ratio (P-LCR) typically refers to a proportion of large platelets below the normal range in a blood test. Platelets are anuclear cell fragments in the blood primarily responsible for participating in the clotting process upon vascular injury to prevent bleeding. A decreased large platelet ratio may indicate reduced platelet production capacity of the bone marrow or impaired platelet maturation.
The following measures can be taken for a low large platelet ratio:
1. Identify the underlying cause: A low large platelet ratio may be caused by various diseases such as acute leukemia and aplastic anemia. Therefore, it is important to seek timely medical evaluation and undergo relevant tests, such as coagulation function tests and bone marrow aspiration.
2. Targeted treatment: Treatment measures should be implemented according to the underlying cause. For example, patients with aplastic anemia may be treated with medications such as cyclosporine and stanozolol, and in some cases, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be required. Patients with leukemia should follow chemotherapy regimens tailored to their specific type.
3. Dietary adjustments: Consume foods that help improve blood counts, such as peanuts, donkey-hide gelatin (colla corii asini), and Chinese red dates (jujube), as well as foods rich in protein and iron, such as eggs, milk, and spinach, which may help improve the low platelet ratio.
4. Medication therapy: Under a doctor's guidance, medications such as ferrous sulfate and folic acid may be used to improve the condition. If the cause is immune-related, immunosuppressive drugs may also be prescribed.
5. Other treatments: In severe cases, blood transfusion therapy may be considered to rapidly increase platelet counts. For specific conditions such as a reduced large platelet count caused by the spleen, splenectomy may be considered.
