THROMBOCYTOPENIA

abnormally low number of blood platelets in the circulation. Thrombocytopenia may occur as a result of decreased platelet production, when the bone marrow is malfunctioning or not functioning (e.g., in leukemia; from excess of certain drugs or irradiation; in certain anemias; from congenital lack of megakaryocytes, cells in the bone marrow that give rise to platelets), or as a result of increased platelet destruction (causes include malfunctioning spleen, congestive heart failure, massive bank blood transfusion after hemorrhage, incompatible blood transfusion). Symptoms of thrombocytopenia include small hemorrhages into the skin and easy bruising; sometimes gastrointestinal bleeding, excess menstrual bleeding, or other hemorrhage is observed. Treatment includes rest, protection from injury, and sometimes platelet transfusion, glucocorticoid therapy, or removal of the spleen (splenectomy).