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STANDARD HEMATOLOGY: Platelets, or thrombocytes, are small, colorless, enucleated bodies. They are produced in the bone marrow by fragmentation of megakaryocytes. Megakaryocytes are large cells found in bone marrow that produce platelets by fragmenting their cytoplasm. Platelets play a vital role in the hemostatic process, which prevents blood loss. When the endothelial lining of a blood vessel is traumatized, platelets are stimulated to go to the site of injury, where they form a plug that helps reduce blood loss.
APPEARANCE: Platelets are typically very dark to black under phase contrast, are not quite circular, nor square, and range in size from 2-4 microns.
PLATELET EXCESS - When the platelet count increases the condition is known as thrombocytosis. This may occur in certain disease states such as cancer, chronic infections, and certain blood diseases. It may cause increased blood clot formation.
PLATELET DEFICIT - When platelet count decreases a condition called thrombocytopenia occurs. This may happen either as a result of decreased platelet production (e.g., bone tumor, chemotherapy) or excessive platelet destruction (e.g., transfusion reaction, immune response).
PLATELET/THROMBOCYTE AGGREGATION. CAUSE: High triglycerides, excessive red meat, stress, caffeine, sodas, chocolate, etc.
SIGNS: Circulation, capillary blockage, blood clots, heart.
MED PERSPECTIVE: Severe platelet aggregation can be a potentially serious finding. Platelet aggregation can contribute to cardiovascular disease which is the number one cause of death in the western world. Several organic substances may promote platelet clumping which include collagen, ADP, the catecholomines, certain immune complexes and fatty acids. Cigarette smoking often contributes to "hyperactive" platelet formation. Diabetics and patients with hypercholesterolemia usually demonstrate increased platelet aggregation which can predispose them to clotting disorders which may lead to a vascular thrombus and vessel obstruction.
ADD'L TESTS: For aggregation rule out high fat diet as cause. If platelet aggregation occurs concurrent with rouleau, acute phase protein elevation caused by inflammation or tissue necrosis or allergy can be suspected. A collagen-damaging disease is possible. If patient does not improve after 30 days of nutritional treatment and dietary management, test and rule out occult disease processes which may cause collagen damage or neoplastic changes. If aggregation exists in absence of rouleau and high fat diet is ruled out, check for excessive stress level producing biochemical imbalance in patient. Other tests -Cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, coagulation time.
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