What happens if platelets are too high

Others may not need any treatment. A complete blood count, or CBC, measures several components of your blood and can help diagnose a broad range of conditions, from anemia and to cancer.

A ministroke, or transient ischemic attack TIA , occurs when part of the brain experiences a temporary lack of blood flow. Learn about 13 ministroke…. Blood cell disorders impair the formation and function of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. Testing can help assess your risk of excessive bleeding or developing….

If left untreated, a blood clot can reach your organs and cause potentially life threatening conditions, such as pulmonary embolism, stroke, or a…. A fibrinogen activity test is used to determine the level of fibrinogen in your blood. Learn more here. Bleeding diathesis means a tendency to bleed or bruise easily. Bleeding disorders often occur when blood doesn't clot properly. Learn about common…. Find out what to do in case of hemorrhage, or bleeding. Discover how to recognize a medical emergency, the complications, and more.

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs are a type of medication that is used to eliminate or reduce the risk of blood clots by helping prevent or break…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Primary Thrombocythemia.

Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Causes Symptoms Complications Diagnosis Treatment Outlook Prevention and treatment We include products we think are useful for our readers. What is primary thrombocythemia? Bone marrow is the spongelike tissue inside your bones.

For this test, your doctor removes a small amount of bone marrow tissue through a needle. He or she examines the tissue to check the number and types of cells in the bone marrow. With thrombocythemia and thrombocytosis, the bone marrow has a higher than normal number of the very large cells that make platelets.

Your doctor may recommend other blood tests to look for genetic factors that can cause a high platelet count. This condition is considered less harmful today than in the past, and its outlook often is good. People who have no signs or symptoms don't need treatment, as long as the condition remains stable. Taking aspirin may help people who are at risk for blood clots aspirin thins the blood.

However, talk with your doctor about using aspirin because it can cause bleeding. Doctors prescribe aspirin to most pregnant women who have primary thrombocythemia. This is because it doesn't have a high risk of side effects for the fetus. Some people who have primary thrombocythemia may need medicines or medical procedures to lower their platelet counts.

This platelet-lowering medicine is used to treat cancers and other life-threatening diseases. Hydroxyurea most often is given under the care of doctors who specialize in cancer or blood diseases.

Patients on hydroxyurea are closely monitored. Currently, hydroxyurea plus aspirin is the standard treatment for people who have primary thrombocythemia and are at high risk for blood clots. This medicine also has been used to lower platelet counts in people who have thrombocythemia. However, research shows that when compared with hydroxyurea, anagrelide has worse outcomes.

Anagrelide also has side effects, such as fluid retention, palpitations pal-pih-TA-shuns , arrhythmias ah-RITH-me-ahs , heart failure , and headaches.

Interferon alfa. This medicine lowers platelet counts, but 20 percent of patients can't handle its side effects. Side effects include a flu-like feeling, decreased appetite, nausea feeling sick to the stomach , diarrhea, seizures, irritability, and sleepiness. Doctors may prescribe this medicine to pregnant women who have primary thrombocythemia because it's safer for a fetus than hydroxyurea and anagrelide.

This procedure is used only for emergencies. For example, if you're having a stroke due to primary thrombocythemia, you may need plateletpheresis.

An intravenous IV needle that's connected to a tube is placed in one of your blood vessels to remove blood. The blood goes through a machine that removes platelets from the blood. The remaining blood is then put back into you through an IV line in one of your blood vessels. People who have secondary thrombocytosis usually don't need platelet-lowering medicines or procedures. This is because their platelets usually are normal unlike in primary thrombocythemia.

Also, secondary thrombocytosis is less likely than primary thrombocythemia to cause serious problems related to blood clots and bleeding. If you're taking medicines to lower your platelet count, tell your doctor or dentist about them before any surgical or dental procedures.

These medicines thin your blood and may increase bleeding during these procedures. Medicines that thin the blood also may cause internal bleeding. Signs of internal bleeding include bruises, bloody or tarry-looking stools, pink or bloody urine, increased menstrual bleeding, bleeding gums, and nosebleeds. Contact your doctor right away if you have any of these signs. These medicines may raise your risk of bleeding in the stomach or intestines and may limit the effect of aspirin.

Be aware that cold and pain medicines and other over-the-counter products may contain ibuprofen. Learn more about participating in a clinical trial. View all trials from ClinicalTrials. Visit Children and Clinical Studies to hear experts, parents, and children talk about their experiences with clinical research. Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis.

What Is - Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis. A normal platelet count ranges from , to , platelets per microliter of blood. Overview The term "thrombocythemia" is preferred when the cause of a high platelet count isn't known. Outlook People who have primary thrombocythemia with no signs or symptoms don't need treatment, as long as the condition remains stable. Treatment and outlook for secondary thrombocytosis depend on its underlying cause.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Medline Plus. Platelet disorders. Essential thrombocythemia. Updated May 2, Cleveland Clinic. Updated March 2, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Thrombocythemia and thrombocytosis.

Updated May 25, Use of multiple inflammatory marker tests in primary care: using Clinical Practice Research Datalink to evaluate accuracy. Br J Gen Pract. Cancer incidence following a high-normal platelet count: cohort study using electronic healthcare records from English primary care.

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We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. In general, a platelet count more than , cells per microliter is considered elevated; this is known as thrombocytosis. There are numerous causes of thrombocytosis and fortunately, the majority are benign and transient.

Let's review some of the most common causes. Chronic myleoproliferative disorders disorders where the bone marrow makes too many blood cells can cause thrombocytosis. In ET, for example, the bone marrow makes too many megakaryocytes, the cells that make platelets, resulting in thrombocytosis. With these conditions, the excessive numbers of platelets cause the blood to be thick and flow more slowly which may result in blood clots.

Treatment is aimed at reducing the platelet count to reduce this risk. In both children and adults, infections are the most common cause of an elevated platelet count. The majority of people who experience this are asymptomatic but a small group of patients with other risk factors may develop blood clots. Platelet counts generally return to normal after resolution of the infection, but this may take several weeks.

In some patients, thrombocytosis may be a rebound effect after having thrombocytopenia low platelets during initial infection. Although a low hemoglobin and small red blood cells are the typical laboratory values associated with iron deficiency anemia, elevation of the platelet count is not uncommon.

At this time, it is unknown what exactly causes this thrombocytosis. In general, it is well tolerated and resolves with appropriate iron supplementation treatment.

A certain amount of platelets are housed in your spleen at any given time. This thrombocytosis is usually mild to moderate and well tolerated. Immediately after splenectomy, thrombocytosis may be severe and may trigger the formation of a blood clot.