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A pseudothrombocytopenia false-positive result may occur when automated platelet counting devices are used. As a means of double checking the results, the patient's blood sample is often examined under a microscope. If the clumping is visible and the number of platelets appears normal, pseudothrombocytopenia may be concluded.
One common definition of thrombocytopenia requiring emergency treatment is a platelet count below 50,000/μL. [5] Thrombocytopenia can be contrasted with the conditions associated with an abnormally high level of platelets in the blood – thrombocythemia (when the cause is unknown), and thrombocytosis (when the cause is known). [6] [7]
High platelet counts can occur in patients with polycythemia vera (high red blood cell counts), and is an additional risk factor for complications. [ citation needed ] A very small number of people report symptoms of erythromelalgia , a burning sensation and redness of the extremities that resolves with cooling, or aspirin or both.
Platelet clumps in a blood smear. Platelet aggregation begins minutes after activation, and occurs as a result of turning on the GPIIb/IIIa receptor, allowing these receptors to bind with vWF or fibrinogen. [5] Each platelet has around 60,000 of these receptors. [31]
Giant platelet disorder; Two giant platelets (stained purple) are visible in this image from a light microscope (40×) from a peripheral blood smear surrounded by red blood cells. One normal platelet can be seen in the upper left side of the image (purple) and is significantly smaller in size than the red blood cells (stained pink). Specialty ...
Platelets which have been bound by antibodies are taken up by macrophages in the spleen (which have Fc receptors), and so removal of the spleen reduces platelet destruction. The procedure is potentially risky in ITP cases due to the increased possibility of significant bleeding during surgery.
Blood smear examination is usually performed in conjunction with a complete blood count in order to investigate abnormal results or confirm results that the automated analyzer has flagged as unreliable. [3] Microscopic examination of the shape, size, and coloration of red blood cells is useful for determining the cause of anemia.
Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a pathology that results in thrombosis in capillaries and arterioles, due to an endothelial injury. [1] It may be seen in association with thrombocytopenia, anemia, purpura and kidney failure. The classic TMAs are hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.