Thrombocytopenia

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Thrombocytopenia is any disorder in which there are not enough platelets. Platelets are cells in the blood that help blood to clot. This condition is sometimes associated with abnormal bleeding.

Thrombocytopenia is often divided into three major causes of low platelets:

1. Low production of platelets in the bone marrow
2. Increased breakdown of platelets in the bloodstream (called intravascular)
3. Increased breakdown of platelets in the spleen or liver (called extravascular)

Disorders that involve low production in the bone marrow include:

• Aplastic anemia
• Cancer in the bone marrow
• Infections in the bone marrow (rare)
• Drugs (very rare)

Disorders that involve the breakdown of platelets include:

• Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia
• Drug-induced nonimmune thrombocytopenia
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
• Hypersplenism

Review Date: 09/20/2006
Reviewed By: Corey Cutler, MD, MPH, FRCP(C), Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.