Platelet count

If you find that your platelet count is abnormal during a physical examination, do you want to know what it is? In fact, platelet count is a manifestation of vascular fragility. If the platelet count is too large, it can easily cause blood vessel blockage and lead to the occurrence of thrombotic diseases. Moreover, there is still no clear theory about the cause of thrombocytosis, which makes it very difficult to treat.

However, if you find that other indicators of your body are normal and only the platelet count is abnormal, you do not need to worry too much, because it is just a project used to diagnose the disease. Abnormal platelet count alone does not mean that there is nothing wrong with your body.

In clinical practice, we perform mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) measurements. MPV indicates the average volume of a single platelet. A decrease is seen in 1. Poor bone marrow hematopoietic function and decreased platelet production. 2. Half of leukemia patients have reduced MPV. 3. MPV continues to decrease with the platelet count, which is one of the signs of bone marrow hematopoietic failure. PDW indicates the discreteness of platelet size. A low PDW indicates that the platelets are relatively consistent in size!

These indicators are generally analyzed by fully automatic blood cell analyzers, which may result in instrument errors. What is more important is to look at your platelet count. If the count is normal, there is generally no problem! Platelet packed volume (PCT) = MPV*PLT. It should be due to an increase in your total platelet count (PLT) or mean platelet volume (MPV). An increase in MPV indicates that megakaryocytes are highly mature and bone marrow hematopoiesis is good. An increase in PLT means an increase in the total platelet count. Generally, the test result is within 450 units, which is acceptable. Generally, infection, blood loss, hemolysis, tumor, etc. will cause an increase in platelets.

If it is too high (excluding other blood diseases), it is thrombocythemia and the cause (primary or secondary) must be found out. Vascular contraction can also cause an increase in PCT. This is because platelets adhere to the vascular endothelium. When blood vessels are damaged and contract, the glycoproteins on the platelet's surface adhere to the collagen under the endothelium, and the platelets aggregate with each other, causing platelets to accumulate and naturally increase the volume of blood.

After reading this article, I believe you must have understood what platelet count is. Please note that if you insist on finding that platelet count and some other indicators are in an abnormal state, you must pay attention to timely treatment. If you have to wait until the symptoms of the disease appear before treatment, it will only bring greater harm to your body.