Platelets are fragments of large cells called megakaryocytes that are involved in blood clotting.
High Platelet count are seen in:
– inflammatory diseases such as vasculitis, inflammatory arthritis
– Bleeding, iron deficiency, hemolytic anemia
– Trauma, burn, heart attack
– Chronic infections
– Allergic reactions
– Lymphoma, cancer
– Medications
Low Platelet count are seen in:
– Clumping. This results in falsely low platelet count
– Medications such as quinine, heparin, sulfa drugs such as Bactrim, antibiotics such as vancomycin, acetaminophen, NSAIDs like naprosyn, tagamet, cancer drugs
– Infections such as hepatitis C, HIV, Sepsis, mono, h.pylori, babesia
– Toxic such as alcohol
– Immune related such as in Systemic Lupus, Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, TTP,
– Vitamin Deficiency such as Vitamin B12 deficiency
– Pregnancy
– Cancer
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