Bleeding, Thrombocytopenia

>> What are the reasons for a bleeding tendency?
>> Why is my platelet count low, and what is the treatment?

What are the reasons for a bleeding tendency?

Clotting disorders, which are associated with a bleeding tendency, are not rare. Bleeding can occur as the consequence of certain illnesses including liver, blood and kidney diseases, but can also be related to congenital abnormalities in the coagulation system. The most frequent congenital coagulation disorder is von Willebrand disease. Willebrand factor promotes adhesion of blood platelets to the injured vessel wall and hence is important in the initial stages of haemostasis. Patients with von Willebrand disease have a tendency towards bleeding from mucous membranes or the skin.

Why are my platelets low and what is the treatment?

A low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) can occur as the consequence of various illnesses including liver, blood and infectious diseases. In case of severe thrombocytopenia bleeding occurs predominantly from the skin and the mucous membranes. The platelet count usually increases when the underlying disease is controlled. Sometimes thrombocytopenia is the only abnormality found, that means that all the other blood tests including red and white blood cell count are normal. Treatment of patients with isolated thrombocytopenia consists of immunosuppression (corticosteroids). During the last years new strategies including application of rituximab (mabthera) and recombinant thrombopoietin (N-Plate, Eltrombopag) have been developed.