Low platelets/thrombocytes

[BollocksToBrexit]

DD had a pinprick rash on her legs yesterday, constant nose bleed and a massive bruise on her side. I told her to see the dr, which she did this morning and had blood taken. When she got out from work she had several missed calls from the dr, who then called her again

Dr said that the blood test showed she had low platelets and told her to go straight to A&E. The doctor was going to ring them to let them know she was on her way.

Dr Google is no help and tells me it could be anything from a post virus blip that'll clear up on it's own to leukemia. How worried should I be? Is the dr's response normal whatever the cause or does it indicate that she thinks it's something bad?

DD is a 4 hour drive away so I can't just go and meet her

Anyone?

She's likely will have further tests to rule out thinks lijecLeukemia but as you said, it could be a number of other less distressing conditions.

Must be hard to be far away from your DD. Sending you

She's just sent me a photo from the hospital. She's in an isolation room.

Poor girl, this must be worrying for you both, how old is she? She is in the right place, I hope the doctors get to the bottom of what's caused this and that she will soon be feeling stronger. Sending hugs to you both.

She's 25 and has autism. She rang me in tears after she spoke to the doctor but now she's quite enjoying reading all the disease protocols up on the wall in the isolation room. She reckons she's going to be patient 0 for the zombie apocalypse.

Her boyfriend and his mum are with her so at least she's not on her own.

My DS had ITP which is an autoimmune condition, triggered by a virus, in which the spleen kills off platelets, mistaking them for the virus. It was quite dramatic as you say, bloodspots all over his legs and a nosebleed, plus bleeding from the mouth. Platelets are meant to be between 150-400, his were at 1.

Meningitis was immediately ruled out as he was "well" apart from the bleeding.

He was assessed for leukemia but this can be ruled out if the blood cells look normal apart from lack of platelets. They had done this within 24 hours of him getting to hospital, and he was also in isolation until they had done this bit.

Because his platelets were at zero by the morning after admission, he was at risk of a brain heamorrage so they gave him immunoglobulin which made him feel pretty wretched. He was in hospital 4 days until he recovered from the ig transfusion. The ig brought his platelets up brilliantly, though they did drop again.

In children ITP tends to spontaneously sort itself out, and my ds' did but it took a year. In adults it is sometimes a more chronic condition. However if they can get platelets to stay above about 20 the risk of severe bleeds reduces dramatically.

Hth x

The fact that her rash is on her legs is a hint that it might be itp. Attaching ds' rash pic, from a few days in when it was fading.

www.itpsupport.org.uk/index.php/en/

That's what her legs look like.

She's been admitted now for further tests and is now on a ward but still in an isolation room. I'm looking to see if I can get there by train as I can't drive that far at the moment.

Kids eh, still worrying us stupid even when they've grown and flown the nest.

Hi OP have you any more news on your daughter? I hope she is okay

She bored. She feels fine but she's not allowed to do anything. They said her platelet count was 2, which is bad. They're going to take a bone marrow sample tomorrow and she's being tested for hepatitis and HIV. The dr said she'll be in for the weekend at least and possibly into next week. He also asked her about her tattoos, one of which was only done 3 weeks ago.

We're going up tomorrow once DS finishes school.

What a worry for you and for her. I would advise for her to ask for sedation before having the bone marrow sample. Are they testing for anything else? What are her other blood counts like?

Yes she'll be sedated. I don't know anything about other blood counts. Only that they said her blood pressure is a little high but normal for someone who's stressed.

It’s really scary when this comes on so quickly. I had ITP when I was in my early 30’s. my platelet count went down to 8. I ended up having my spleen removed 6 months after diagnosis as even with transfusions and steroids they couldn’t get my platelets up.

20 years later, apart from taking penicillin twice a day I am healthy and very active.

Good. Her GP was right to act quickly. Ask her to find out what her other blood counts are. I hope all will be okay

Her GP seems lovely. DD said she rang her today to find out how she was getting on at hospital. The GP seems to be genuinely concerned.

That's nice. My GP was the same. I had a blood test and he called same day 3 times and had arranged for me to be seen in hospital the next day. My platelets were 7 at that point

Did they find out what caused yours to be so low? And how did they fix it?

So far on this thread we have 1 ig transfusion and 1 spleen removal.

They did. I had Myleodysyplastic syndrome ((MDS) . I had a stem cell transplant. Am fine now

Hi OP let us know how it goes today

She's just seen the doctor. He says they're not going to do the bone marrow biopsy now as her white cell count is normal and her platelet count has increased to 4

They're just going to keep monitoring her for a few days to see if it continues to rise.

I'm totally confused by the whole thing.

It's probably itp in that case?
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
It means they are pretty confident it's not leukeamia, I think.

That's good news the white cell count is normal. What about her red cell count? I'm not surprised you are confused. It is all very complicated. Main thing is they are monitoring her. Don't be afraid to ask the doctors lots of questions x