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What Causes Low Blood Platelet Count?
Question: Hi had my routine CBC done and platelets are 105, they have never been that low. Back in August I took alot of 800 mg Motrin for ankle sprain, could that lower my platelets? My dad also has low platelets. My doctor does not seem to be worried an said lets recheck in 2 weeks. If this was leukemia/lymphoma etc wouldn't my WBC & RBC be abnormal?
Brief Answer:
motrin is unlikely to be the cause. Leukemia would have more findings.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the platelets count is indeed lower than normal but this is not necessarily a real problem. I would have asked for confirmation sooner because the platelet life span is only 10 days, so if your platelet production is the problem then by the second week you would have no platelet in your blood. Keep in mind that you're prone to bleeding when the platelets are below 50,000 and you're in more danger when they're lower than 20,000. Spontaneous bleeding may occur with platelet counts lower than 5,000. Sometimes the automated counters may get confused and report less platelets than their real count.
Regarding your concerns about serious hematologic malignancies... Leukemia can almost be excluded because we don't expect such disorders to present with low platelets only. The same applies for lymphomas.
So in conclusion, a repeat measurement is required (I would have asked such a patient to repeat it within a week) and microscopic examination of peripheral blood smear is also required. If the results are normal, you can forget about it. Otherwise more investigation would have to be done by a hematologist.
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
motrin is unlikely to be the cause. Leukemia would have more findings.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the platelets count is indeed lower than normal but this is not necessarily a real problem. I would have asked for confirmation sooner because the platelet life span is only 10 days, so if your platelet production is the problem then by the second week you would have no platelet in your blood. Keep in mind that you're prone to bleeding when the platelets are below 50,000 and you're in more danger when they're lower than 20,000. Spontaneous bleeding may occur with platelet counts lower than 5,000. Sometimes the automated counters may get confused and report less platelets than their real count.
Regarding your concerns about serious hematologic malignancies... Leukemia can almost be excluded because we don't expect such disorders to present with low platelets only. The same applies for lymphomas.
So in conclusion, a repeat measurement is required (I would have asked such a patient to repeat it within a week) and microscopic examination of peripheral blood smear is also required. If the results are normal, you can forget about it. Otherwise more investigation would have to be done by a hematologist.
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I just found this out and my followup is at the 2 week mark, so when should I have my blood redrawn? Is a microscopic examination of peripheral blood smear just done by blood test that I can ask my doctor to do?
Brief Answer:
within a week from the last test should be OK
Detailed Answer:
I've already answered your first question. Retesting within a week from the blood test is the best time according to my opinion. The peripheral blood smear is just a drop of blood on a glass slide. Microscopic examination allows the hematologist to confirm that the counts are correct (or not) and to detect abnormalities in the blood cells (white, red, platelets). This is an easy test to do and many labs do it whenever the automated counters provide abnormal reports.
Kind Regards!
within a week from the last test should be OK
Detailed Answer:
I've already answered your first question. Retesting within a week from the blood test is the best time according to my opinion. The peripheral blood smear is just a drop of blood on a glass slide. Microscopic examination allows the hematologist to confirm that the counts are correct (or not) and to detect abnormalities in the blood cells (white, red, platelets). This is an easy test to do and many labs do it whenever the automated counters provide abnormal reports.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
ok, BUT it has been over a week and will not get in till 2 week mark will it be a true reading?
Brief Answer:
what do you mean?
Detailed Answer:
I don't quite understand the point of your question... Please clarify.
I've told you my opinion (I did stress that this is my opinion), so testing as soon as possible since 10 days have passed already is recommended. If everything turns out to be OK (as it is indeed expected) then time wouldn't matter. Otherwise it may matter a lot.
I don't understand what's the meaning of "true reading"... Why would a reading be false?
what do you mean?
Detailed Answer:
I don't quite understand the point of your question... Please clarify.
I've told you my opinion (I did stress that this is my opinion), so testing as soon as possible since 10 days have passed already is recommended. If everything turns out to be OK (as it is indeed expected) then time wouldn't matter. Otherwise it may matter a lot.
I don't understand what's the meaning of "true reading"... Why would a reading be false?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am sorry, I didn't know if I should wait longer since I missed the 1 week mark,like a month to let platelets have another life span? Sorry I am not a physician;))
Brief Answer:
let me explain...
Detailed Answer:
I see... let me explain how it works. Our body (the bone marrow actually) produces blood cells including the platelets. The platelets may live for up to 10 days when they're healthy. This time may be even shorter under certain circumstances (disorders like autoimmune thrombocytopenia). So if the bone marrow stops producing new platelets the body will be out of platelets within a week or so. There is no time mark regarding the tests. My recommendation was based on the platelets' life expectancy. Since this time is already past, I think you should repeat the test as soon as possible. I hope it's more clear now!
Kind Regards!
let me explain...
Detailed Answer:
I see... let me explain how it works. Our body (the bone marrow actually) produces blood cells including the platelets. The platelets may live for up to 10 days when they're healthy. This time may be even shorter under certain circumstances (disorders like autoimmune thrombocytopenia). So if the bone marrow stops producing new platelets the body will be out of platelets within a week or so. There is no time mark regarding the tests. My recommendation was based on the platelets' life expectancy. Since this time is already past, I think you should repeat the test as soon as possible. I hope it's more clear now!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
YES totally get it now! Ok thank you for your help:))))
Brief Answer:
You're welcome!
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
Glad to help!
You're welcome!
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
Glad to help!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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