Platelets are portions of a larger cell, called a megakaryocyte, found in the bone marrow. Platelets have the ability to detect a rupture or injury to a blood vessel and fix themselves, immediately helping to stop bleeding.

The blood is a vital element for the functioning of the human body. Have a liquid component, plasmawhere a significant number of substances necessary for our life are transported, and three types of cells. The Red blood cells (they transport oxygen), white blood cells (they perform a defensive function) and platelets.

What are platelets?

Platelets are portions of a larger cell, called a megakaryocyte, found in the blood factory (bone marrow).. Each megakaryocyte, when fragmented, produces hundreds of platelets that pass into the blood. These, since they do not have a nucleus, cannot divide or reproduce. They usually last in the blood for around 9 days.

Platelets help protect us from bleeding. There are continually small breaks in the blood vessels that are plugged by platelets. Platelets have the ability to detect a rupture or injury to a blood vessel and fix themselves, immediately helping to stop bleeding. Subsequently, help initiate blood clotting so that tamponade of blood loss is more effective.

Platelets are essential to ensure the integrity of blood circulation by stopping bleeding. The normal number of platelets is between 120,000 and 400,000 per microliter of blood. Generally, it is necessary to investigate the platelet count when it is less than 100,000 or more than 500,000 repeatedly.

Problems associated with platelets

There are three types of problems associated with platelets:

• Thrombocytopeniathat is to say, have fewer platelets than normal. It is the most common problem, however, most Most of the time it has no impact because frequently, although we have fewer platelets, they are capable of ensuring correct hemostasis (normal blood circulation without bleeding). If the platelet count is very low, the patient will have problems with bruises and bleeding.
• Thrombocytosisthat is to say, have more platelets than normal. The increase in the number of platelets is a physiological defense mechanism in case of inflammation and infection. Therefore, in these cases the platelet count may be higher than normal. If the platelet count is excessively high, a greater Thrombosis risk. The clearest example of this problem occurs in a blood disease called Essential thrombocythemia, in which the patient may have 2 to 5 times the normal platelet count. Another common cause of high platelets is having the low irona situation that must always be evaluated in these patients
• thrombocytopathythat is, have malfunctioning platelets. Although the number could be normal, there is a tendency to hemorrhage. Most of this platelet malfunction is due to drug administration. This administration may be intentional (to improve circulation or prevent thrombosis) or be an adverse effect of some drug.

Most frequent diseases associated with platelets

• Gestational thrombocytopenia or plateletopenia: Thrombocytopenia means “low platelet count.” A common cause is a drop in platelets that is seen in many pregnant women. It usually does not need treatment. It has the problem that if the descent is significant, epidural anesthesia cannot be administered due to the risk of bleeding.
• Primary immune thrombocytopenia: also called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. It is a decrease in platelets, generally due to an immunological cause (our body destroys our own platelets due to an alteration in autoimmunity). Frequently, the drop in platelets is not serious. When it is, treatment with cortisone and sometimes immunoglobulins is usually necessary. New treatments have recently become available for patients who do not respond, such as thrombopag and romiplostin.
• Essential Thrombocythemia: It is a benign tumor of platelets that are produced in an uncontrolled manner and that if not treated can lead to thrombosis. The treatment has two objectives, one is to prevent thrombosis with small doses of aspirin, and second is to reduce the platelet count when it has reached dangerous numbers, generally with hydroxyurea.
• Thrombocytopenia or plateletopenia secondary to cancer treatments: It is one of the most frequent causes of low platelets. They are usually due to the effect of Chemotherapy on the blood factory. When the decrease in platelets is compromised, it is necessary to perform platelet transfusions.

Are there platelet transfusions?

If they exist. They are available from blood donors and are available in blood banks or transfusion services. They can be obtained from a normal blood donation or from a special platelet donation. In the first case It is necessary to separate the platelets from the red blood cells and by combining this fraction from several donors we obtain a sufficient number of platelets to transfuse (usually from 5 donors). In the second case, with an apheresis machine we can obtain platelets from a single donor of higher quality.