What is thrombocytopenia?<br />Thrombocytopenia is when you have low levels of platelets in your blood. Platelets are blood cell fragments that are important for helping blood to clot.<br />When you cut yourself and the wound bleeds, platelets clump together at the site of the wound to stop the bleeding. If you have low levels of platelets, you may have a bleeding problem.<br />Your platelets may be low in number if:<br />● your body is not making enough of them<br />● they are being destroyed or removed from your body too quickly<br />● they are being trapped in your spleen<br />Your body makes platelets in your bone marrow. Your spleen is an organ that filters your blood. It sits in your abdomen (tummy), under your ribs on the left.<br /><br />What are the symptoms of thrombocytopenia?<br />Symptoms of thrombocytopenia are:<br />● easy bruising<br />● abnormal bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavy heavy periods)<br />● blood in your poo or urine (wee)<br />● pinpoint bleeding in your skin that looks like a purplish-red rash (known as petechiae)<br />● cuts that keep bleeding<br /><br /><br />Thrombocytopaenia can be caused by:<br />● medical conditions (such as problems with your bone marrow, liver disease, infections, immune conditions and blood clotting disorders)<br />● cancers (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)<br />● some medicines, including heparin<br />● cancer treatments, including chemotherapy<br />● heavy alcohol use<br />● some nutritional deficiencies (vitamin B12 and folate deficiency)<br />● some genetic conditions<br />● pregnancy and some pregnancy complications<br />Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) — also called immune thrombocytopenia — is a condition that causes a low platelet count. ITP can affect children and adults and is caused by an immune system reaction.<br /><br />Complications <br />ofthrombocytopenia<br />Dangerous bleeding can sometimes occur if you have thrombocytopenia.<br /> م. امير بهاء فاهم<br /><br />