What is the normal number of platelets in the body?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II, Senior Doctor Doan Du Dat - General Internal Medicine - Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital
In the human body, platelets are a cell that plays an important role in hemostasis, forming blood clots to protect the integrity of blood vessels.

1. About platelet cells in human blood

Platelets (English name: Platelets or Thrombocytes) are a type of cell in human blood. Platelets are cells without a nucleus, in fact they are a cell fragment of a platelet (megakaryocyte), a type of white blood cell produced in the bone marrow.
Platelets are the smallest of all blood cells, when viewed under a microscope, platelets are dark purple spots only 20% the diameter of red blood cells. Platelets are round or oval with biconvex (lens-like) surfaces approximately 2μm in diameter (ranged from 1.2–2.3 μm) with a maximum diameter of up to 3 μm.

Platelets reside in blood vessels and are present in high concentrations in the spleen. The average life of a platelet is 7-10 days. In the body, the organ responsible for destroying old platelet cells is the spleen. The spleen is the site of capture and destruction of platelets and other blood cells in the body. Abnormalities of the spleen such as splenomegaly can lead to increased platelet capture and destruction, and decreased peripheral blood platelet counts.
Therefore, in many cases in which a patient has a complete blood count showing severe thrombocytopenia, a splenectomy may be indicated to reduce platelet destruction.

2. Normal platelet count in the body

PLT (Platelet Count) – The number of platelets in a volume of blood.
The normal number of platelets in the blood is usually about 150,000 to 400,000 platelets/μl of blood (1 μl = 1 mm3), with an average of 200,000 platelets/μl of blood. Each liter of blood contains about 150-400 billion platelets.
Normal platelet count values ​​in the CBC will vary from person to person and will vary depending on the patient's psychological state, gender, age, race and special Therefore, in order to determine that the body is always healthy, we should regularly check blood count tests and general health checks, in order to prevent possible signs of disease. may occur, so that timely treatment can be taken.
A platelet count that is too low can cause bleeding. And the number of platelets is too high, it will form blood clots, obstructing blood vessels that can cause stroke, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, blood vessel blockage,...
Some possible causes leading to an increase/decrease in platelets in the body:
Increase: bone marrow proliferative disorders, idiopathic thrombocytosis, bone marrow fibrosis, after bleeding, after splenectomy, inflammatory diseases. Reduce: bone marrow suppression or replacement, chemotherapy agents, splenic enlargement, disseminated intravascular coagulation, platelet antibodies, post-transfusion purpura, allogeneic thrombocytopenia Infant...

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