Side Effect: Low Platelets (Thrombocytopenia)

What is Low Platelets (Thrombocytopenia)?

Having a low platelet count is known as thrombocytopenia. Platelets are blood cells that help with clotting to prevent excessive bleeding. When platelet levels drop too low, it can lead to bruising, nosebleeds, and other bleeding-related symptoms.

What does Low Platelets (Thrombocytopenia) look like?

Most patients will not realize they have a low platelet count until the number of platelets is very low. When symptoms are noticeable, they typically include the following:

• Easy bruising
• Pinpoint-sized red or purple spots on the skin (petechiae)
• Bleeding gums
• Nosebleeds
• Prolonged bleeding from cuts
• Blood in the urine
• Blood in the stool or black tarry stools
• Vomiting blood or something that looks like coffee grounds
• Heavy menstrual periods.

Who gets Low Platelets (Thrombocytopenia)?

Many of the chemotherapy drugs used for cancer treatments will cause a drop in platelet counts due to bone marrow suppression. This effect is normally dose dependent. Certain immunotherapy medications used in the treatment of cancer also carry a risk of causing drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia (DITP). In the case of DITP your body will start producing antibodies that destroy platelets.

How to prevent Low Platelets (Thrombocytopenia)

It is not always possible to prevent thrombocytopenia while receiving cancer treatment. To lower the risk it is recommended that patients avoid alcohol, as well as aspirin or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen.

How to treat Low Platelets (Thrombocytopenia)

If your platelets are low your doctor might need to lower the dose of your treatment, switch to a different treatment, or hold the treatment until your body recovers. Your provider might also order a platelet transfusion if your platelets are very low or if you have signs of bleeding. If low platelets are due to an immune response there are medications such as romiplostim (Nplate®) and eltrombopag (Promacta®) that might be able to help.