A 40-year-old member asked:
What exactly does it mean to have a low platelet count?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Scott Welkeranswered
General Surgery 29 years experience
Folic acid deficient: Is one of the most common reasons; there are literally hundreds of others. You might start by taking a daily multivitamin, but i it doesn't work you have to dig deeper.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 39-year-old member asked:
What does a slightly low platelet count mean?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Scott Welkeranswered
General Surgery 29 years experience
Folic acid deficient: Is one of the most common reasons; there are literally hundreds of others. You might start by taking a daily multivitamin, but i it doesn't work you have to dig deeper.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
What does a low platelet count mean?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Lab error or real: The platelets are fragile & subject to clumping in the specimen& that drops the count. Repeating a level would be prudent on a random low count. True low counts come from decreased production(illness, bad bone marrow, cancer) or increased loss/destruction (disease, bleeding disorder).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Could low platelet count always mean cancer?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ed Friedlanderanswered
Pathology 46 years experience
No: There are many other causes, including being one of the several percent of healthy folks who happen to fall below the reference range, which the lab keeps narrow just for this reason.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Cape May, NJ
A 42-year-old male asked:
I was told i had slightly low platelet count does that mean I have leukemia?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ravi Nerellaanswered
Hospital-based practice 26 years experience
Not necessarily : There are several components in blood tests. The various components vary in ranges due many causes. Just because one component is low does not necessarily mean you have a certain disease. Your physician will take into consideration all of the components in the test done to determine if there is something to worry about. If you have a concern discuss with your doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
What does a low platelet count be caused by?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Gurmukh Singhanswered
Pathology 51 years experience
See below: Low platelet count, thrombocytopenia, may be due to low production, as in bone marrow failure, excessive alcohol intake; increased destruction as in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or drug related platelet destruction. Enlarge spleen form any cause may lower platelet count. See this site for more info.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thrombocytopenia/basics/definition/con-20027170.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jul 16, 2018
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