What Causes a Decrease in Platelet Count?

Update Date: Source: Network

Causes of Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia can arise from various causes, including but not limited to immunological factors, medication effects, and infectious factors. Additionally, conditions such as aplastic anemia and leukemia can also lead to thrombocytopenia.

Non-disease Factors:

  1. Immunological Factors: When the body develops autoimmune diseases or conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus, antibodies against platelets may be produced, destroying them and subsequently reducing their levels in the blood.
  2. Medication Effects: Prolonged use of antitumor drugs or chemotherapy medications, such as Vincristine Sulfate Injection, as well as certain antibiotics like Levofloxacin Hydrochloride Capsules, can inhibit the proliferation of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, preventing them from normally dividing to form platelets, ultimately causing thrombocytopenia.
  3. Infectious Factors: Both viral and bacterial infections can adversely affect bone marrow hematopoiesis, leading to insufficient platelet production and subsequent reduction.

Disease Factors:

  1. Aplastic Anemia: Resulting from various causes that impair bone marrow hematopoiesis, this condition leads to a decrease in all blood cell types, including platelets, accompanied by symptoms like anemia and bleeding.
  2. Leukemia: A malignant clonal disease that suppresses normal hematopoiesis and infiltrates other organs and tissues, affecting platelet production and ultimately causing thrombocytopenia.

Apart from the aforementioned common causes, thrombocytopenia can also occur in conditions such as hypersplenism, liver cirrhosis, and primary immune thrombocytopenia. It is crucial to seek prompt medical attention for diagnosis and targeted treatment. In daily life, it is important to take warm measures, avoid catching a cold, rest adequately, and refrain from overexertion.