I was supposed to have a anterior posterior diskectomy fusion with instrumentation. But when I went to do my blood work for the surgery they told me that I can't have surgery because my platelet count is 56,000 and a normal count is 250,000. Does anyone know what the possible causes are for a low count?

i have low platlets too. i sometimes go as low as 7,000. i have ITP which is a disease that keeps my platelets low.

lots of regular people have dips in their platelets like after the birth of a child, after a sickness or weak immune system. you should have it re-checked within the next month and if their not back up then talk to your dr. about doing more tests. in the mean time eat healthy and exercise regularly.

Well I went to the hematologist and my count was still only 58,000. He said that I also have ITP. The hematologist is going to give me some medicine one week before the surgery to raise my platletes to a normal level so there shouldn't be a problem with the surgery.

Well I went to the hematologist and my count was still only 58,000. He said that I also have ITP. The hematologist is going to give me some medicine one week before the surgery to raise my platletes to a normal level so there shouldn't be a problem with the surgery.

WHAT MED DID YOUR DR GIVE YOU TO RAISE THE PLATELET COUNT?
I have had low platletes for about 2 years now and my hemo. doesn't know why...was admitted to hospital in 2001 for 3 weeks w/no diagnosis...ruled out alot of things...but still don't know. I guess they call it TTP...which is just a nme for low platelets. Went thru the steroids and all that stuff...was sent home with Cyclosporene)Neoral) that the Dr. didn't think would work.My blood is not producing platelets anymore. Anyway, the Cyclosporene is WORKING no one knows why...but the side effects are dreadful...Have you heard anything more about this? Please let me know...Thanks Rebecca

TTP, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpora is a disorder that affects the platelets, clotting factor, and in the later stages kidneys and other organs. It can cause disorientation, as not enough blood is getting to the brain, as well as other failure to other organs. That is the worst case scenario, however. Steroids is often subscribed, and plasma exchange (Plasma pheresis) to exchange the good with the bad. More often then not this method works. In the more rare mishap, however, chemotherapy (usually vincristine) is administered to kill the anit-bodies that is disrupting the natural blood flow in the first place and begin anew. This often can take up to several doses. TTP is both a 'freak' accident as well as it could be genetic. Inherited. There is no known exact cure for TTP, and it often happens for no real reason whatsoever. It occurs more in women then men, (again, merely a statistic) and usually with women who are overweight. Often, in repeat occurences, the spleen is removed, as that's a key point in this kind of disorder.


- Can't say I know much about ITP, as I don't have ITP, I have TTP, but that should answer a lot of the questions put forth about TTP.

Hope that little bit helps.

- Siv

what does the letters itp stand for?
my father n law has low platletts and low whites, his reds are fine. he just had to have a transfusion of platletts because they got to 5000. the doc's call his myelodysplasia and they say there is nothing that can be done. he is going to louisville tomorrow to a cancer center to see what they have to say. anyone have any info.....we are desperate. afraid we might lose him next.

what does the letters itp stand for?
my father n law has low platletts and low whites, his reds are fine. he just had to have a transfusion of platletts because they got to 5000. the doc's call his myelodysplasia and they say there is nothing that can be done. he is going to louisville tomorrow to a cancer center to see what they have to say. anyone have any info.....we are desperate. afraid we might lose him next.



I also have low platelets, but mine is from an infection that I have. I have an infected boil. So, I guess any infection can cause a low platelet count.

his has dropped sudden....it would drop 3000 in just 4 days, then 4 or 5 days 2 or 3000 again. he had the transfusion but the docs say he might have to do this every 5 days. i don't understand why there is nothing they can do.

his has dropped sudden....it would drop 3000 in just 4 days, then 4 or 5 days 2 or 3000 again. he had the transfusion but the docs say he might have to do this every 5 days. i don't understand why there is nothing they can do.

It is good that you are going to a Cancer Center. Depending on the rest of his health and his counts, they can treat him with Thalidomide, there are stem Cell transplants and other types of palliative care they can offer. ITP stands for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia /This simply means that for reasons that are not fully understood, his bodie is unable to create functioning blood cells in numbers that are adequate for functioning.By now you may know that he is anemic, short of breath, loss of appetite, Gets infections easily and does not easily recover if he gets an infection. It can sometimes change into leukemia. But a lot of work is being done at the research level and there are trials out there. Please search the web for Myelodisplastic Syndrome and you will find a goodly amount of information and research trials going on for this disease.

ITP actually is also Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura which is the name given when the reason for the thrombocytopenia (low platelets) is known...for example in heparin's effects on platelets.

In terms of holly's condition, she probably has the Immune variant if it is related to the infection. Though, normally, platelets are known as "acute phase reactants"...i.e. in times of bodily stress and inflammation, their levels rise. However, like you have clearly stated, there are cases where certain viral and bacterial infections can cause low platelet counts.

I was supposed to have a anterior posterior diskectomy fusion with instrumentation. But when I went to do my blood work for the surgery they told me that I can't have surgery because my platelet count is 56,000 and a normal count is 250,000. Does anyone know what the possible causes are for a low count?

Sometimes it is injury itself that will cause the platelets to drop. IF you have been taking extensive pain medications, specifically NSAIDs. celebrex, Viox etc. These drugs will reduce platelet counts. 56 is pretty low. But, if the doctor addresses it, the counts will come back up pretty fast. You did not indicate your age, but sometimes a low platelet count comes with aging process as well.

Sometimes it is injury itself that will cause the platelets to drop. IF you have been taking extensive pain medications, specifically NSAIDs. celebrex, Viox etc. These drugs will reduce platelet counts. 56 is pretty low. But, if the doctor addresses it, the counts will come back up pretty fast. You did not indicate your age, but sometimes a low platelet count comes with aging process as well.
My son was just diagnosed with ITP... his count was 3 when he was admitted to the hospital. They gave him some medicine, and it is not up to 28 which is considered critial. He is on full bed rest. Poor little guy. I couldnt believe it when I saw him. He had bruises all over his body and little red spots. He looked like he was beaten up. Scared me bad. They did a bunch of blood work to rule out Lukemia and other diseases. His lymph nodes are also swollen so that worried them. But all blood work turned out good.