What is thrombocytopenia?

Also known as: low platelet count.

Platelets (thrombocytes) are cells produced in the bone marrow that help the blood to clot by clumping together and forming a plug, at the site of a damaged blood vessel.

Thrombocytopenia is the condition where there is a low platelet count (less than 150,000/microL) and this results in bleeding (hemorrhage) because the blood doesn't clot properly.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

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