DEXA : Bone Density scan

What are platelets?

Platelets are the cellular components of the blood that circulate throughout the body, also known as thrombocytes. These are small in size and colourless fragments. Platelets spread across the damaged surface of the blood vessels, bind together to form a clot and stops the bleeding.

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Platelet counts

1. Healthy counts ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.

Health conditions associated with platelet counts

Thrombocytopenia - Condition where platelet counts are less than 150,000 per microliter.

A low platelet count occurs when

1. Bone marrow is damaged and unable to produce required number of platelets.
2. Individual with Autoimmune diseases, infections conditions etc.
3. Spleen dysfunction.

Symptoms

1. Easy bruising
2. Frequent bleeding from the gums, nose, or GI tract
3. Unusual bleeding or excessive bleeding from a small injury.
4. Blood in urine or stool.

Causes

1. Medications
2. Cancer Chemotherapy treatment
3. In conditions like leukemia or lymphoma
4. Kidney problems
5. Alcohol use

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Thrombocytosis - Condition where platelets counts are more than 450,000 per microliter

This disorder is due to ongoing health conditions. There are two types:

Primary or essential thrombocytosis (Essential Thrombocythemia)– The condition where abnormal cells in the bone marrow cause an increase in platelet count.

Condition where platelet counts of more than 1 million due to the defects in the bone marrow’s platelet-making cells, which can lead to bleeding. This condition is not caused by another existing health conditions. Blood clots that are formed blocks the blood supply to the brain or the heart. Sometime the condition is also called as primary or essential thrombocythemia

Symptoms

1. Most often blood clots in the hands, feet and brain
2. Clots in arteries and veins
3. Easily Bruising
4. Bleeding from the nose, gums, and GI (gastrointestinal) tract
5. Bloody stools
6. Headache, weakness and dizziness
7. Swollen lymph nodes
8. Over bleeding after surgery or small cut.

Thrombocythemia is most often caused by mutations or changes in the gene sequence (Example JAK2, CALR, MPL genes).

Secondary thrombocytosis – Similar as primary thrombocytosis, but the condition may be caused due to ongoing health conditions or disease such as infections, cancer, anemia etc.

How to diagnose?

1. Complete blood count (CBC)
2. Blood smear
3. Bone marrow tests
4. Genetic testing – JAK2 V617F Mutation analysis
5. Genetic testing – Calreticulin R (CALR Type I & II) Mutation analysis
6. Genetic testing – MPL (W515L, W515K, W515A & S505N) Mutation analysis
7. Genetic testing – BCR-ABL1 fusion transcripts (p210, p190 & p230) analysis

Monitoring your platelets

An excessive number of platelets, too few platelets, abnormally functioning platelets, and related conditions, like blood clots, strokes, and cardiovascular failures can be inherited. So it's good idea to consult your best hematologist in Vijayawada at blood cancer hospital.

Platelets are tiny however significant cells in your blood that assist your body with controlling bleeding. If you have symptoms, like easy bruising, a cut that continues to bleed, or successive nosebleeds, let your Leukemia specialist in Vijayawada know. A simple blood test is all you really need whether your platelet count is normal.