Definition:
Thrombocytosis is the presence of high platelet counts in the blood, and can be either reactive or primary.
Diagnosis:
Laboratory tests might include: liver enzymes, full blood count, renal function and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Treatment:
Often, no treatment is needed or necessary for reactive thrombocytosis.
Symptoms and Signs:
High platelet levels do not necessarily signal any clinical concerns, and are picked up on a routine full blood count. However, it is crucial that a full medical history be elicited to ensure that the increased platelet count is not due to a secondary process. Often, it arises in tandem with an inflammatory disease, as the principal stimulants of platelet production (e.g. thrombopoietin) are heightened in these clinical states as part of the acute phase reaction.
Causes:
Primary causes include essential thrombocytosis (a form of myeloproliferative disease) and other myeloproliferative disorders such as chronic myelogenous leukemia, polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis.
The information on this site is for research purposes only and can not substitute for the advice of a medical professional. Ailments.com is not run by doctors and does not engage in the practice of medicine. Our site is not a medical authority, it is just a research tool for you to use in preparation for consulting with a doctor. We can not guarantee our information is accurate or up to date. Even if a statement made about a medical condition is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms, so you should always consult a doctor. Nothing on our site should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.
