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Platelets are blood cells called thrombocytes and help your blood clot, so you stop bleeding. Low platelet count is also called thrombocytopenia. When your platelet levels are lower than normal, your blood isn’t able to clot as it should, putting you at a higher risk for excessive bleeding. The lower your platelet count, the higher your risk for bleeding. Your doctor will tell you what level is considered a low platelet count. If you have a very low platelet count, sometimes your doctor will delay your treatment or reduce your dose. Your doctor will use a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC) to measure your platelet level Causes of low platelet countYour platelet count may be low if the body is not making enough platelets, losing platelets, or platelets are being destroyed. In patients with cancer, low platelet count may be caused by:
Symptoms of low platelet countIf your platelet levels drop, you may begin to notice one or more of these symptoms
Call your cancer care team right away if you notice any of these symptoms. Platelet transfusion in patients with low platelet countsA platelet transfusion might be needed in some patients with cancer who have a low platelet count. Platelets may be given to prevent bleeding when the platelet count is very low, or they may be given if a patient has some unusual bleeding to help stop it. Before platelets are given, the donor is carefully matched to the patient and the platelets are screened so they are safe. But, receiving a platelet transfusion has some risks:
Talk to your doctor about whether you have a risk for a low platelet count, and what options might be best for your situation. What a patient with a low platelet count can do
What caregivers can do
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy. Which complications would the nurse monitor for in a patient who has a platelet count below 100 000?By definition, thrombocytopenia is a platelet count below 100,000/mm 3. Signs and symptoms include nasal or gingival bleeding; bloody urine, sputum, or stool; petechiae; blood blisters; scleral hemorrhage; purpura; and ecchymosis. A platelet count below 50,000/mm 3 increases the risk of hemorrhage with minor trauma.
What are the complications of low platelets?Petechiae. Easy or excessive bruising (purpura). Superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as a rash of pinpoint-sized reddish-purple spots (petechiae), usually on the lower legs.. Prolonged bleeding from cuts.. Bleeding from your gums or nose.. Blood in urine or stools.. Unusually heavy menstrual flows.. Fatigue.. What should I monitor for low platelet count?To diagnose low platelet count, your doctor will need to do a complete blood count (CBC) test. This test is often performed with a simple blood draw in your arm. A CBC test looks at the number of blood cells in your blood. It will tell your doctor if your platelet count is lower than it should be.
Why is a low platelet count a potential problem for a surgical patient?A low platelet count is a relative contraindication to surgery due to the risk of bleeding (Estcourt 2017; Kaufman 2015; NICE 2015). Platelet transfusions are one of a number of interventions used in modern clinical practice to prevent and treat bleeding in people with thrombocytopenia.
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