Hello and thanks for the query.

It is very unlikely that your platelet count is related to your vitamin B12 level.

The most likely cause of your low platelet count is autoimmune. This is referred to as immune thrombocytopenic purpura.ITP causes your immune system to consume your platelets. The cost of this is not well understood.

There are several different treatments for this. If your doctor determines that this is what you have going on he might ask you to take a short course of steroid medication. The steroid medication helps decrease your immune system's consumption of your platelets.

Your doctor should review your platelets and your blood cells under the microscope. Again if he determines that you have ITP based on a review of your blood count as well as antibody levels then a course of steroid medications might help this resolved.

In some cases ITP can become chronic. This will require further discussion with your doctor.

Thanks again for sending your question. Please let me know if you have any additional concerns.

Dr. Robert

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Hello and thank you for the additional question.

There is no strong data that would suggest that those medications would trigger a low platelet count.

As I mentioned earlier sometimes we never really know the obvious cause of this immune thrombocytopenia for low platelets related to autoimmune disorder.

Thanks again for sending your question. Please see your doctor and obtain a strong opinion from him or a referral to a hematologist.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert

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