What diseases can be caused by abnormal platelets?

Platelets are one of the important cells in the human body. The main function of this cell is to coagulate blood and stop bleeding, and it plays a vital role in wound healing. As one of the important indicators of human health, once the platelets are abnormal, it means that some parts of the body have begun to become diseased. For example, too many platelets means that you may have chronic myeloid leukemia, acute and chronic inflammation, or even cancer. Too few platelets means that you may be anemic, or have acute leukemia, Gaucher disease and other diseases. Below we will give you a detailed introduction to the role of platelets and what diseases platelets can cause, to help you better understand platelets.

1. The role of platelets

Platelets are small pieces of cytoplasm that fall off from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, so they have no nucleus and have a complete cell membrane on the surface. Platelets are small in size, with a diameter of 2 to 4 microns, and are biconvex disc-shaped. They are easily affected by mechanical and chemical stimulation, at which time they extend protrusions and become irregular in shape. Under an electron microscope, the surface of the platelet membrane is coated with sugar, which can adsorb plasma proteins and coagulation factors. Therefore, platelets play an important role in physiological and pathological processes such as hemostasis, wound healing, inflammatory response, thrombosis and organ transplant rejection.

2. What diseases can cause thrombocytosis?

When the platelet count is >400×10^9/L, it is thrombocytosis. Essential thrombocytosis is common in myeloproliferative diseases, such as chronic myeloid leukemia, polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, etc.; thrombocythemia is common in patients with acute and chronic inflammation, iron deficiency anemia and cancer. This type of increase generally does not exceed 500×10^9/L. The situation improves after treatment and the platelet count will quickly drop to normal levels. After splenectomy, platelet count will increase significantly, often higher than 600×10^9/L, and then slowly decrease to the normal range.

3. What diseases can cause thrombocytopenia?

When the platelet count is <100×10^9/L, it is thrombocytopenia, which is common in platelet production disorders such as aplastic anemia, acute leukemia, acute radiation sickness, etc.; increased platelet destruction, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hypersplenism, Gaucher disease, etc.; excessive consumption such as disseminated intravascular coagulation, familial thrombocytopenia such as giant platelet syndrome, etc.