What is Platelet Count (PLT) in Blood Test? What is High and Low Platelet Count (PLT)? Causes & Treatment?
- Health Garden
- Mar 4, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 19, 2024
Platelet Count (PLT) in blood test is a test that shows the number of platelets in your blood.
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are small blood cells that are essential for blood clotting.
Clotting is the process that helps you stop bleeding after an injury.
In addition, platelets produced in the bone marrow play a role in repairing vascular damage and healing wounds.
There are two types of platelet tests: a platelet count test and platelet function tests. A platelet count test measures the number of platelets in your blood. Platelet function tests check your platelets' ability to form clots.
A platelet count is most often used to monitor or diagnose conditions that cause too much bleeding or too much clotting.
Low PLT may be a sign of cancer, infection or other health problems, while high PLT may be a sign of clotting disorders and a possible stroke.
What is A Normal Platelet Count (PLT) in Blood Test ?
A normal Platelet count in blood test is 150,000 to 400,000 per microliter. Normal value ranges may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory. It is necessary to take into account the reference values of the laboratory where the test was performed.
A PLT count of less than 20,000 per microliter is a serious condition.
Age, gender, race, pregnancy, lifestyle (diet, smoking, drinking alcohol, physical activity) and some genetic problems can affect platelet count.
What is High Platelet Count (PLT) in Blood Test?
High PLT in the blood is a platelet count higher than 400,000 per microliter. In this condition, called thrombocytosis, the tendency for blood to clot increases.
If the PLT value is high, it increases the risk of stroke.
What Causes High Platelet Count (PLT) in Blood Test?
There are various reasons that may lead to high platelet count (thrombocytosis). Some of these are as follows:
Certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer or breast cancer
Anemia
Inflammatory bowel disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
A viral or bacterial infection
High Platelet Count (PLT) Symptoms
A high PLT value in the blood usually does not cause any symptoms. Therefore, in most cases, it is detected incidentally in blood count results.
If there is a serious thrombocytosis condition, the patient may experience various symptoms such as dizziness, headache, chest pain, visual disturbances, swelling in the hands and feet, numbness, swelling in the spleen, and itching.
Due to the high number of platelets, clotting problems occur in various parts of the body. Since these clots can also form in the heart and brain vessels, there are risks such as heart attack and stroke in severe thrombocytosis. Therefore, it is very important to apply medical treatment in cases of severe platelet elevation.
How to Treat High Platelet Count (PLT) Level?
Unless the platelet elevation is very severe, it does not cause any symptoms in patients, and if detected incidentally, follow-up is usually recommended. However, in cases of long-lasting or very severe thrombocytosis, a detailed investigation should be made into the cause of this condition and treatment should be applied if the physician deems it necessary.
Since serious risks such as heart attack and stroke occur with an excessive number of platelets, in such cases, the number of platelets must be reduced with a treatment called thermophoresis.
In platelet elevations that occur due to diseases, the treatment plan should be started after the underlying disease is determined.
What is Low Platelet Count (PLT) in Blood Test?
Low PLT in a blood test is a value below the lower reference value. This means the PLT number is less than 150000 per microliter, which is the lower reference value. Results may vary slightly between laboratories. You must take into account the reference value of your own laboratory.
If the PLT value is low in the blood test, it means that the body is not producing enough platelets. This may cause some negative consequences.
Low PLT is called thrombocytopenia.
What Causes Low Platelet Count (PLT) in Blood Test?
There are various reasons that may lead to high platelet count (thrombocytosis). Some of these are as follows:
A cancer that affects the blood, such as leukemia or lymphoma
A viral infection, such as mononucleosis, hepatitis, or measles
An autoimmune disease. This is a disorder that causes the body to attack its own healthy tissues, which can include platelets.
Infection or damage to the bone marrow
Cirrhosis
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Gestational thrombocytopenia, a common, but mild, low-platelet condition affecting pregnant women. It is not known to cause any harm to a mother or her unborn baby. It usually gets better on its own during pregnancy or after birth.
Low Platelet Count (PLT) Symptoms
Prolonged bleeding after a minor cut or injury
Nosebleeds
Unexplained bruising
Pinpoint sized red spots on the skin, known as petechiae
Purplish spots on the skin, known as purpura. These may be caused by bleeding under the skin.
Heavy and/or prolonged menstrual periods
How to Treat Low Platelet Count (PLT) Level?
In order to treat low platelet count, the factor or health problem causing this condition must first be determined exactly.
In cases where the platelet count is slightly low, if there are no problems such as bleeding or petechiae, no treatment may be required, and in this case, follow-up is generally recommended.
The main aim of treatment in severe thrombocytopenia is to prevent bleeding and risks related to coagulation disorders.
If the platelet count is low due to diseases, a treatment plan is determined for the underlying disease.
Depending on the medications used, if the platelet count is low, methods such as changing the medication or applying different treatments that increase the platelet count may be preferred.