Clinical Significance of Platelet Count
Plateletcount is one of the important indicators for the screening of human hemostasis and coagulation dysfunction. The increase or decrease ofplatelet count is closely related to various bleeding and thromboticdiseases in addition to the individual’s own physiologica fluctuations.
1. Physiological changes
The platelet count of normal people fluctuates with time and physiological state. Usually higher in the afternoon than in the
morning, higher in winter than in spring, higher in plateau residents than in plains, higher after menstruation than before menstruation increases in the middle and late stages of pregnancy decreases
afterdelivery, increases after exercise and a full meal, and recovers after rest.
Plateletcount is slightly low in newborns, but increases significantly after two weeks, and can reach adult levels within half a year
2.Pathologicalincrease
Thrombocytosis is defined as a platelet count exceeding 350×109/L which is common in:
① Primary hyperplasia: Myeloproliferative syndrome, essential thrombocythemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, polycythemia vera, idiopathic myelofibrosis, etc.
2 Reactive hyperplasia: Acute and chronic inflammation, acute massive blood loss, acute hemolysis tumor, recent surgen
(especially after splenectomy), iron-deficiency anemia, early stage of malignanttumor, etc., platelets may have reactive hyperplasia, milo increase or transient increase.
Other diseases: Heart disease, liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis, burns,renal failure, pre-eclampsia, severe frostbite, etc.
3.Pathological decrease
Thrombocvtopenia is defined as a platelet count lower than125x109/L, commonly seen in:
① Thrombocytosis: Aplastic anemia, acute leukemia, acute radiation sickness, megaloblasticanemia, myelofibrosis, etc.
②Increased platelet destruction: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP), hypersplenism, systemic lupus erythematosus, platelet alloantibodies, etc.
③ Excessive consumption of platelets: Such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, etc.