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Platelet Disorders
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/plateletdisorders.html

Platelet Disorders

Also called: Thrombocyte disorders
On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Diagnosis and Tests
  • Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

  • Related Issues
  • Specifics
  • Genetics

See, Play and Learn

  • Videos and Tutorials

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Find an Expert

For You

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Summary

Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are blood cells. They form in your bone marrow, a sponge-like tissue in your bones. Platelets play a major role in blood clotting. Normally, when one of your blood vessels is injured, you start to bleed. Your platelets will clot (clump together) to plug the hole in the blood vessel and stop the bleeding. You can have different problems with your platelets:

  • If your blood has a low number of platelets, it is called thrombocytopenia. This can put you at risk for mild to serious bleeding. The bleeding could be external or internal. There can be various causes. If the problem is mild, you may not need treatment. For more serious cases, you may need medicines or blood or platelet transfusions.
  • If your blood has too many platelets, you may have a higher risk of blood clots.
    • When the cause is unknown, this is called thrombocythemia. It is rare. You may not need treatment if there are no signs or symptoms. In other cases, people who have it may need treatment with medicines or procedures.
    • If another disease or condition is causing the high platelet count, it is thrombocytosis. The treatment and outlook for thrombocytosis depends on what is causing it.
  • Another possible problem is that your platelets do not work as they should. For example, in von Willebrand Disease, your platelets cannot stick together or cannot attach to blood vessel walls. This can cause excessive bleeding. There are different types of in von Willebrand Disease; treatment depends on which type you have.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Start Here

  • What Are Platelet Disorders? From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

  • Blood Tests From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish
  • MPV Blood Test From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Platelet Tests From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

  • Splenectomy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Treatments for Blood Disorders From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

  • What Are Bleeding Disorders From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

Specifics

  • Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish
  • Inherited Platelet Disorders (World Federation of Hemophilia)
  • Petechiae (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish
  • Thrombocytopenia From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Thrombocytosis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

Genetics

  • Atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Bernard-Soulier syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Dyserythropoietic anemia and thrombocytopenia: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Essential thrombocythemia: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Glanzmann thrombasthenia: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Gray platelet syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Immune thrombocytopenia: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Jacobsen syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • MYH9-related disorder: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Von Willebrand disease: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • X-linked thrombocytopenia: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Videos and Tutorials

  • Blood clotting Video (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Blood Platelet Disorders From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Thrombocytopenia From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: von Willebrand Diseases From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Diagnosis of Inherited Platelet Disorders: Clinical Evaluation and Functional and Molecular...
  • Article: Application of multigene panel testing for bleeding, thrombotic, and platelet disorders...
  • Article: The Role of Platelet Dysfunctions in the Pathogenesis of the Hemostatic-Coagulant...
  • Platelet Disorders -- see more articles

Find an Expert

  • Find a Hematologist (American Society of Hematology)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute From the National Institutes of Health

Children

  • Immune Thrombocytopenia (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • von Willebrand Disease (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • Bleeding time (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Congenital platelet function defects (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Drug-induced thromobocytopenia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Essential thrombocythemia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Glanzmann thrombasthenia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Platelet aggregation test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Purpura (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Thrombocytopenia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Platelet Disorders

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Acquired platelet function defect
  • Bleeding time
  • Blood clotting
  • Congenital platelet function defects
  • Drug-induced thromobocytopenia
  • Essential thrombocythemia
  • Factor VIII assay
  • Glanzmann thrombasthenia
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
  • Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
  • Platelet aggregation test
  • Platelet antibodies blood test
  • Platelet count
  • Purpura
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
  • Von Willebrand disease

Related Health Topics

  • Bleeding Disorders
  • Blood Clots
  • Blood Count Tests
  • Blood Disorders
  • Blood Thinners

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Platelet Disorders is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Disclaimers

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The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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