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Medical Author:

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What is thrombocytopenia?
• What causes thrombocytopenia?
• What are the symptoms of thrombocytopenia?
• When should I seek medical care for thrombocytopenia?
• How is thrombocytopenia diagnosed?
• How is thrombocytopenia treated?
• What are the complications of thrombocytopenia?
• Can thrombocytopenia be prevented?
• Thrombocytopenia At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Thrombocytopenia - Describe Your Experience
• Find a local Hematologist in your town
• Thrombocytopenia (Low Platelet Count) Index

The treatment of thrombocytopenia is largely dependent upon the cause and the severity of the condition.

Some situations may require specific or emergent treatments, whereas, others can only be managed by occasional blood draws and monitoring of the platelet levels.

In auto-immune thrombocytopenia or ITP, steroids can be used to weaken the immune system in order to impair the attack on platelets. In more severe cases, intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) or antibodies may also be given to slow down the immune process. In refractory cases, splenectomy (removal of the spleen) may be necessary.

If a drug is thought to be the cause of low platelet count, then it may be discontinued by the supervising physician. In patients with HIT, it is very important to remove and avoid the future use of any heparin products, including low molecular weight heparin (Lovenox), immediately to prevent further immune response against the platelets.

If TTP or HUS is diagnosed, the treatment may include plasma exchange or plasmapheresis. In cases with severe kidney failure, dialysis may be necessary.

In general, platelet transfusion is not necessary, unless an individual with low platelets (less than 50,000) has an active bleeding or hemorrhage, or needs a surgery or other invasive procedures. Sometimes, transfusion may be recommended without any bleeding if the platelet count is less than 10,000.

In suspected cases of HIT or TTP, transfusion of platelets is generally not recommended because the new platelets can potentially make the condition worse and more prolonged.