What diseases can low platelet count cause?
Disease description:
During the examination, it was found that the platelet count was low. I would like to ask what diseases can be caused by a low platelet count?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Thrombocytopenia, known as thrombocytopenic purpura or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, refers to a reduced number of platelets. Platelets are cell fragments in the blood that primarily function in the clotting process to prevent bleeding when blood vessels are damaged. When the platelet count falls below the normal range, it may lead to the following diseases or symptoms:
1. Bleeding disorders: Platelets are crucial components responsible for stopping bleeding in the body. When their numbers decrease, patients may experience symptoms such as skin and mucosal bleeding, nosebleeds, gum bleeding, and oral bleeding. In severe cases, bleeding may occur in the retina, causing visual disturbances, or in vital organs, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, vomiting blood, black tarry stools, urinary tract bleeding, or blood in the urine. The most severe complication is intracranial hemorrhage, which can be life-threatening.
2. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura: This is an autoimmune disease in which the body produces autoantibodies directed against platelets, leading to excessive destruction of platelets in the peripheral blood and resulting in thrombocytopenia and bleeding symptoms.
3. Increased risk of surgery: Patients with thrombocytopenia undergoing surgical or invasive procedures face an increased risk of bleeding.
