Platelets
Platelets are flat, not cells, and do not contain organelles or nuclei, which are irregular in shape, help the body to form clots to stop bleeding. If a blood vessel is damaged, it sends signals that are picked up by platelets, The site of damage, and spread on the surface of the vessel by a process called “adhesion”, to form clot or clot and repair damage and stop bleeding, where when platelets reach the site of infection grow claws sticky to help them to cohesion and stability, and sends chemical signals to attract more platelets to Location P-clotting process called “assembly”. Platelets are made in the bone marrow along with white and red blood cells, and when produced and circulating in the bloodstream they live for 8 to 10 days, with a normal population of 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter of blood.
Causes of platelet insufficiency
The lack of platelets causes the inability to manufacture blood clotting and coagulation in the event of any injury or scratching in the patient’s body. The causes are divided into three main types: failure to make enough platelets in the bone marrow, increase platelet fracture in the blood, Platelets break down in the spleen or liver, and the following are the most important reasons leading to the lack of platelets in general:
- Inflammation of the spleen – which can be caused by a number of disorders – may cram a lot of platelets, causing a decrease in the number of platelets in circulation.
- Bone marrow may not make enough platelets due to one of the following conditions:
- Aesthetic anemia.
- Cancer in the bone marrow, such as leukemia.
- Cirrhosis of the liver (liver scarring).
- Folic acid deficiency.
- Bone marrow injuries (very rare).
- Metastatic dysplasia syndrome (bone marrow does not make enough blood cells, or makes damaged cells).
- Vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Lack of blood-induced platelets, and the lack of this case because of the use of drugs that lead to thrombocytopenia such as sulfa drugs, and some antibiotics, medicines, epilepsy and rheumatism.
- Kaspach-Merit syndrome, the disease is a large swelling of the blood vessels with the presence of clotting within these vessels, and this swelling may be internally, which can not be detected, a very serious disease; because it may cause heart failure, and can be treated in this case by Surgery and the use of radiation and laser.
- Thrombocytopenia is a disease that causes clots in small vessels that cause brain injury, cramps, loss of sight, and mood swings.
- Pregnancy: Deficiency caused by pregnancy is usually mild and improves shortly after birth.
- Immune thrombocytopenia: This type of autoimmune disease, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, causes any abnormality in the immune system in the body that may trigger immune cells to destroy platelets, which often affects children.
- The presence of bacteria in the blood: Acute bacterial infections involving blood (bacteremia) may lead to the destruction of platelets.
- Intravenous coagulation disease.
Symptoms of platelet insufficiency
It should be noted that many people with a lack of platelets do not have any symptoms, but when the worsening situation shows the following symptoms:
- Skin rash is a red rash on the ankles or feet.
- Frequent bleeding in the nose and gums.
- Frequent menstrual cycles in women.
- Quick and easy bruising.
- Severe bloody bleeding that may not be controlled.
- Bleeding occurs in the brain or stomach.
- Blood in the urine or stool.
- Headaches.
- Tiredness and exhaustion.
- splenomegaly.
- Jaundice.
Treatment of platelet insufficiency
Treatment for thrombocytopenia depends on the cause and severity of platelet insufficiency. The main goal of the treatment is to prevent death and disability from bleeding. If the condition is mild, you may not need treatment because the normal number of platelets does not necessarily prevent bleeding in acute wounds or accidents. The number of thrombocytes often improves when the underlying cause is treated, and people who inherit the condition usually do not need treatment. If the cause is a reverse reaction to a medicine that causes a decrease in the number of plates the doctor describes as substitutes, and with most patients, their condition improves quickly after the initial drug is stopped. For heparin deficiency (HIT), heparin is not sufficient, The patient needs other drugs to control his condition, and if the immune system is the cause of the low number of sheets, the doctor may prescribe immunosuppressive drugs.
If the thrombocytopenia is severe, the doctor may resort to more powerful treatments such as prescription drugs such as steroids and immunoglobulins. In addition, the patient may need blood transfusion or some of his products if the patient is suffering from continuous hemorrhage. Doctors resort to the removal of the spleen; to reduce the clogged platelets.