What are platelet function disorders?

Also known as: Acquired platelet function disorders, congenital platelet function defects, thrombasthenia.

Platelets are a small type of cell that circulates in the blood that helps the blood clot properly. They do this by clumping together and plugging up holes (injuries) in blood vessels. There are normally between 150,000 - 350,000 of them.

A child may have less than the normal number of platelets (thrombocytopenia), or a normal number of platelets than don't function properly (thrombasthenia).

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM