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Platelet Dysfunction

By

David J. Kuter

, MD, DPhil, Harvard Medical School

Reviewed/Revised Jun 2022 | Modified Aug 2023
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Platelet dysfunction may be due to a problem in the platelets themselves or to an external factor that alters the function of normal platelets.

  • Inherited

  • Acquired

Inherited platelet disorders

Acquired platelet disorders

Symptoms of Platelet Dysfunction

Symptoms depend on the cause and severity of platelet dysfunction.

People with inherited disorders of platelet dysfunction may have a lifelong history of easy bruising or excessive bleeding after minor injuries or minor surgery such as dental extractions. Boys may have had excessive bleeding after circumcision. Sometimes the first sign in women is that their menstrual periods are very heavy.

Other symptoms of platelet disorders include tiny red dots (petechiae) on the skin and bruising after minor injuries.

Bleeding in the Skin

Diagnosis of Platelet Dysfunction

  • Blood tests to measure platelet count and clotting

  • Special tests to measure platelet function and bleeding

Doctors suspect a drug is causing platelet dysfunction if symptoms begin after a person starts taking that drug. Doctors suspect an inherited cause if symptoms begin early in life in people who do not have any other disorders or do not take any drugs that cause platelet dysfunction.

Doctors first do a complete blood count Complete blood count Doctors select tests to help diagnose blood disorders based on the person's symptoms and the results of the physical examination. Sometimes a blood disorder causes no symptoms but is discovered... read more (CBC) to measure the number of platelets and see whether the person's symptoms are caused by a low number of platelets (thrombocytopenia Overview of Thrombocytopenia Thrombocytopenia is a low number of platelets (thrombocytes) in the blood, which increases the risk of bleeding. Thrombocytopenia occurs when the bone marrow makes too few platelets or when... read more Overview of Thrombocytopenia ). If the number of platelets is normal, doctors suspect there may be platelet dysfunction. If the cause is not clear, doctors may need to do other blood tests to measure substances that are involved in clotting (prothrombin time [PT] and partial thromboplastin time [PTT]). These tests measure how long it takes blood to clot. In other tests, called platelet function tests, a sample of blood is collected and tested to see if platelets react normally to various platelet stimulators. Abnormal platelet function tests may indicate the nature of the inherited or acquired platelet dysfunction.

Treatment of Platelet Dysfunction

If platelet dysfunction is caused by a drug, stopping the drug usually is the only treatment needed. People with an inherited platelet disorder that causes excessive bleeding usually should not take drugs that impair platelet function. When people with an inherited platelet dysfunction have serious bleeding, they may need a platelet transfusion or a drug called desmopressin, which helps decrease bleeding. Bleeding with minor procedures or with menstruation may be prevented by another medication, tranexamic acid, which improves how well the blood clots.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Anacin Adult Low Strength, Aspergum, Aspir-Low, Aspirtab , Aspir-Trin , Bayer Advanced Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin Extra Strength, Bayer Aspirin Plus, Bayer Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Children's Aspirin, Bayer Extra Strength, Bayer Extra Strength Plus, Bayer Genuine Aspirin, Bayer Low Dose Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Womens Aspirin , BeneHealth Aspirin, Bufferin, Bufferin Extra Strength, Bufferin Low Dose, DURLAZA, Easprin , Ecotrin, Ecotrin Low Strength, Genacote, Halfprin, MiniPrin, St. Joseph Adult Low Strength, St. Joseph Aspirin, VAZALORE, Zero Order Release Aspirin, ZORprin
Plavix
DDAVP, Minirin, Nocdurna, Noctiva, Stimate
Cyklokapron, Lysteda
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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