BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuThrombocytopeniaLow platelet count - thrombocytopeniaThrombocytopenia means there is an abnormally low amount of platelets. Platelets are parts of the blood that help blood to clot. This condition is sometimes associated with abnormal bleeding. Causes Thrombocytopenia is often divided into 3 major causes of low platelets:Not enough platelets are made in the bone marrow Increased removal of platelets in the bloodstream Increased trapping of platelets in the spleen or liverYour bone marrow may not make enough platelets if you have any of the following conditions:Aplastic anemia (disorder in which the bone marrow does not make enough blood cells) Aplastic anemiaAplastic anemia is a condition in which the bone marrow does not make enough blood cells. Bone marrow is the soft, tissue in the center of bones tha...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cancer in the bone marrow, such as leukemia LeukemiaLeukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bones, where blood cells are ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cirrhosis (liver scarring) Folate deficiency Folate deficiencyFolate deficiency means you have a lower-than-normal amount of folic acid, a type of vitamin B, in your blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Infections in the bone marrow (very rare) Myelodysplastic syndrome (bone marrow does not make enough blood cells or makes defective cells) Myelodysplastic syndromeMyelodysplastic syndrome is a group of disorders in which the blood cells produced in the bone marrow do not mature into healthy cells. This leaves ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Vitamin B12 deficiencyUse of certain medicines may also lead to a low production of platelets in the bone marrow. The most common example is chemotherapy treatment for cancer.The following health situations cause a low number of platelets:Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become over active, most often during a serious illness (disseminated intravascular coagulation - DIC) Disseminated intravascular coagulation ...Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Drug-induced low platelet count Enlarged spleen Disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets (immune thrombocytopenic purpura - ITP) Immune thrombocytopenic purpura - ITPImmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clot...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Disorder that causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels, causing a low platelet count (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura - TTP)Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura - T...Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a blood disorder in which platelet clumps form in small blood vessels. This leads to a low platelet cou...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms You may not have any symptoms. Or you may have general symptoms, such as: Bleeding in the mouth and gums Bruising BruisingA bruise is an area of skin discoloration. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels break and leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the s...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Nosebleeds NosebleedsA nosebleed is loss of blood from the tissue lining the nose. Bleeding most often occurs from one nostril only.Read Article Now Book Mark Article RashRashRashes involve changes in the color, feeling or texture of your skin.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other symptoms depend on the cause. Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history and symptoms. The following tests may be done:Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood clotting tests: partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and prothrombin time (PT)Partial thromboplastin timePartial thromboplastin time (PTT) is a blood test that looks at how long it takes for blood to clot. It can help tell if you have a bleeding problem...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prothrombin timeProthrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. It measures the functio...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests that may help diagnose this condition include bone marrow aspiration or biopsy.Bone marrow aspirationBone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells. It is found in the hollow part of most bones. Bone marrow aspiration is th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article BiopsyA bone marrow biopsy is the removal of marrow from inside bone. Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells. It is foun...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment depends on the cause of the condition. In some cases, a transfusion of platelets may be required to stop or prevent bleeding. Outlook (Prognosis) The outcome depends on the disorder causing the low platelet counts. Possible Complications Severe bleeding (hemorrhage) is the main complication. Bleeding may occur in the brain or gastrointestinal tract. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you experience unexplained bleeding or bruising. Prevention Prevention depends on the specific cause.Open ReferencesReferencesAbrams CS. Thrombocytopenia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 158.Branchford BR, Samelson-Jones BJ, Flood VH. Platelet and blood vessel disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 533.Warkentin TE. Thrombocytopenia caused by hypersplenism, platelet destruction, or surgery/hemodilution. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 130.Zeller MP, Ning S, Arnold DM, Gabe C. Diseases of platelet number: immune thrombocytopenia, neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, and posttransfusion purpura. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 129.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)(Condition)Drug-induced thrombocytopenia(Condition)Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura(Condition)Essential thrombocythemia(Condition)Hypersplenism(Condition)Gastrointestinal bleeding(Symptoms)Vomiting blood(Symptoms)Black or tarry stools(Symptoms) Review Date: 3/31/2024 Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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ThrombocytopeniaLow platelet count - thrombocytopeniaThrombocytopenia means there is an abnormally low amount of platelets. Platelets are parts of the blood that help blood to clot. This condition is sometimes associated with abnormal bleeding. Causes Thrombocytopenia is often divided into 3 major causes of low platelets:Not enough platelets are made in the bone marrow Increased removal of platelets in the bloodstream Increased trapping of platelets in the spleen or liverYour bone marrow may not make enough platelets if you have any of the following conditions:Aplastic anemia (disorder in which the bone marrow does not make enough blood cells) Aplastic anemiaAplastic anemia is a condition in which the bone marrow does not make enough blood cells. Bone marrow is the soft, tissue in the center of bones tha...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cancer in the bone marrow, such as leukemia LeukemiaLeukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bones, where blood cells are ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cirrhosis (liver scarring) Folate deficiency Folate deficiencyFolate deficiency means you have a lower-than-normal amount of folic acid, a type of vitamin B, in your blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Infections in the bone marrow (very rare) Myelodysplastic syndrome (bone marrow does not make enough blood cells or makes defective cells) Myelodysplastic syndromeMyelodysplastic syndrome is a group of disorders in which the blood cells produced in the bone marrow do not mature into healthy cells. This leaves ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Vitamin B12 deficiencyUse of certain medicines may also lead to a low production of platelets in the bone marrow. The most common example is chemotherapy treatment for cancer.The following health situations cause a low number of platelets:Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become over active, most often during a serious illness (disseminated intravascular coagulation - DIC) Disseminated intravascular coagulation ...Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Drug-induced low platelet count Enlarged spleen Disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets (immune thrombocytopenic purpura - ITP) Immune thrombocytopenic purpura - ITPImmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clot...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Disorder that causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels, causing a low platelet count (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura - TTP)Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura - T...Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a blood disorder in which platelet clumps form in small blood vessels. This leads to a low platelet cou...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms You may not have any symptoms. Or you may have general symptoms, such as: Bleeding in the mouth and gums Bruising BruisingA bruise is an area of skin discoloration. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels break and leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the s...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Nosebleeds NosebleedsA nosebleed is loss of blood from the tissue lining the nose. Bleeding most often occurs from one nostril only.Read Article Now Book Mark Article RashRashRashes involve changes in the color, feeling or texture of your skin.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other symptoms depend on the cause. Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history and symptoms. The following tests may be done:Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood clotting tests: partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and prothrombin time (PT)Partial thromboplastin timePartial thromboplastin time (PTT) is a blood test that looks at how long it takes for blood to clot. It can help tell if you have a bleeding problem...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prothrombin timeProthrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. It measures the functio...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests that may help diagnose this condition include bone marrow aspiration or biopsy.Bone marrow aspirationBone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells. It is found in the hollow part of most bones. Bone marrow aspiration is th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article BiopsyA bone marrow biopsy is the removal of marrow from inside bone. Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells. It is foun...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment depends on the cause of the condition. In some cases, a transfusion of platelets may be required to stop or prevent bleeding. Outlook (Prognosis) The outcome depends on the disorder causing the low platelet counts. Possible Complications Severe bleeding (hemorrhage) is the main complication. Bleeding may occur in the brain or gastrointestinal tract. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you experience unexplained bleeding or bruising. Prevention Prevention depends on the specific cause.Open ReferencesReferencesAbrams CS. Thrombocytopenia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 158.Branchford BR, Samelson-Jones BJ, Flood VH. Platelet and blood vessel disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 533.Warkentin TE. Thrombocytopenia caused by hypersplenism, platelet destruction, or surgery/hemodilution. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 130.Zeller MP, Ning S, Arnold DM, Gabe C. Diseases of platelet number: immune thrombocytopenia, neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, and posttransfusion purpura. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 129.