Platelets are a form of blood cell. They are involved in producing blood clots, which help stop bleeding from wounds. Your platelet count is an estimate of the concentration of platelets in your blood, and it is an element of a routine complete blood count (CBC).
Certain diseases and medications may cause platelets to be too high or too low. An abnormal platelet count may cause health problems, corresponding to excessive bleeding from wounds or a predisposition to blood clots.
This article explains what a standard platelet count is, what to anticipate in case your platelet count is just too high or too low, and methods to treat abnormal platelet counts.
Illustration by Laura Porter for Verywell Health
Platelet Count: What Do Ranges Mean?
Platelets are small blood cells which might be made within the bone marrow, lasting for about 7 to 10 days. A healthy platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 400,000 per microliter. This generally signifies that your body is regenerating platelets at a gentle rate to switch older platelets that normally disintegrate.
Low Platelet Ranges
A platelet count below 150,000 per microliter is taken into account low. A low platelet count is known as thrombocytopenia. Several conditions and medical treatments may cause low platelets.
Causes include:
- Anticoagulant medication, like heparin
- Other medications, including some antibiotics (sulfonamides, ampicillin, piperacillin, vancomycin, rifampin) and older anti-epileptic agents corresponding to carbamazepine and phenytoin
- Bone marrow disease
- Blood cancers
- Chemotherapy
- Liver disease
- A severe infection, illness, or malnutrition
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP, a rare condition by which platelets clump and form clots in small blood vessels)
A low platelet count can increase the chance of bruises and gastrointestinal bleeding or may predispose to life-threatening bleeding (corresponding to a hemorrhagic stroke).
Normal Platelet Ranges
A standard platelet range is between 150,000 and 400,000 per microliter. It is a sign that the speed of your platelet production is about equal to your normal platelet breakdown. Having a standard platelet count can allow your body to have a standard blood-clotting process, but platelets are just one component of that process.
High Platelet Ranges
A platelet count above 450,000 per microliter is taken into account high. You can have a high platelet count as a result of underlying disease—this is known as secondary or reactive thrombocytosis.
Causes of any such thrombocytosis include inflammation, cancer, splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen), anemia (low red blood cell function), and heart disease. Excessive platelet production can also be brought on by a rare genetic condition.
Having a high platelet level generally is a risk factor for harmful blood clots that may cause:
Normal platelet count can vary based on age and sex.
| Platelet count based on age | ||
|---|---|---|
| Female | Male | |
| Under age 15 | 165,000–473,000 platelets per microliter | 165,000–473,000 platelets per microliter |
| Age 15–64 | 136,000–436,000 platelets per microliter | 120,000–369,000 platelets per microliter |
| Age 65–70 | 119,000–396,000 platelets per microliter | 112,000–361,000 platelets per microliter |
| Age 70–79 | 130,000–300,000 platelets per microliter | 130,000–300,000 platelets per microliter |
| Age 80 and above | 120,000–300,000 platelets per microliter | 120,000–300,000 platelets per microliter |
Understanding Normal Platelet Function
Platelets are a key component of blood-clotting, which helps prevent excessive bleeding. These small blood cells are formed within the bone marrow and stored within the spleen. Typically, some platelets also flow through the blood vessels.
When you will have a wound or injury superficially or contained in the body, platelets adhere to the exposed matrix of injured blood vessels. The platelets are activated to secrete products that further stimulate the production of a platelet plug and blood clot.
With autoimmune thrombocytopenia, the immune system can result in platelet destruction. The condition can develop in response to an infection, or sometimes with no cause. Autoimmune thrombocytopenia results in a deficit in platelets, with prolonged bleeding after injuries, and even sometimes with no noticeable injury.
Treatment can include corticosteroids or other immune suppression, platelet stimulating medication, or a splenectomy.
Who Should Monitor Their Platelet Count
Normally, platelet count is measured with a normal CBC. For most individuals it’s really helpful to have a normal CBC yearly, together with the regular routine physical. If you will have a condition that might cause any abnormality in blood cells, you would possibly have to have more frequent CBC testing, together with platelet count.
You may have to have your platelets measured at specific intervals if you will have a health condition that predisposes you to a high or low platelet count, corresponding to thrombocytopenia or a history of cancer, or in case you are taking medication that alters platelet levels.
Platelet Blood Test vs. Platelet Bone Marrow Test
A platelet blood test measures the concentration of platelets in your blood. A platelet bone marrow test involves a bone marrow biopsy (taking a sample of bone marrow, often from the hip, to research within the lab). A bone marrow biopsy can assess the health of the cells that produce platelets in your bone marrow.
How to Treat Low or High Platelet Count
If your platelet count is just too high or too low, you have to medical treatment. Usually, therapy for an abnormal platelet count involves medication, and possibly blood transfusions or other therapeutic interventions.
Treatments for top platelet count include:
- Management of the underlying cause (corresponding to treatment for iron deficiency anemia)
- Angrylin (anagrelide), a medicine that helps lower platelet count
- Hydria or Droxia (hydroxyurea), a medicine that helps lower platelet count
- Plateletpheresis, which is physical removal of blood platelets through a vein
Treatments for low platelet count include:
- Management of the underlying cause
- Platelet transfusion (not indicated for some conditions, corresponding to TTP)
- Medications to stimulate increased platelet production, corresponding to Promacta (eltrombopag) and Nplate (romiplostim)
- Corticosteroids for immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
- Splenectomy
- For thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), plasmapheresis and plasma exchange (the liquid a part of your blood containing abnormal proteins is removed and replaced with donor plasma)
Additionally, chances are you’ll need to include certain lifestyle changes to assist manage problems together with your platelet count.
Important at-home methods for managing abnormal platelet count include:
- Not smoking
- Only using blood thinners as directed by your healthcare provider
- Maintaining a healthy weight loss program that features crucial vitamins, minerals, and protein—and taking dietary supplements as really helpful by your healthcare provider
Next Steps After Abnormal PLT Blood Test
If your blood test shows an abnormal platelet count, it is best to follow up together with your healthcare provider. You may have additional tests to diagnose the underlying reason for your platelet dysfunction.
Other tests may include a blood smear (microscopic examination of a blood sample), X-rays, liver function tests, or a bone marrow biopsy. The next steps in your diagnostic testing can be determined by your underlying risk aspects, whether your platelets are high or low, and whether any of your other blood measurements are abnormal.
Summary
Platelets are a necessary a part of healthy healing. Your platelet count will be measured with an easy CBC blood test. Abnormalities in platelet count may cause serious health consequences and may be indications of an underlying disease.
If you will have an abnormally high or low platelet count, it’s necessary that you simply get diagnosed so which you could start on appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Often, the platelet count will be corrected with treatment.
In some cases, chances are you’ll need long-term treatment, in addition to ongoing surveillance of your platelet count to evaluate whether the treatment is working effectively.
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