From the Guidelines
Elevated platelets, or thrombocytosis, can be caused by various conditions, including primary thrombocytosis due to genetic mutations, and secondary or reactive thrombocytosis in response to underlying conditions such as inflammation, infections, or cancer, as seen in Kawasaki disease 1.
Causes of Thrombocytosis
Thrombocytosis can be primary, where the bone marrow produces too many platelets due to genetic mutations in blood-forming cells, or secondary, where it develops in response to another underlying condition.
- Primary thrombocytosis is seen in essential thrombocythemia and other myeloproliferative disorders.
- Secondary or reactive thrombocytosis is more common and can be caused by:
- Acute or chronic inflammation
- Infections
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Recent surgery
- Cancer, particularly lung, gastrointestinal, breast, and ovarian cancers
- Splenectomy
- Certain medications like epinephrine and vincristine
- Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and connective tissue disorders
- Stress, exercise, and pregnancy can also temporarily increase platelet counts
Specific Condition - Kawasaki Disease
In Kawasaki disease, thrombocytosis is a characteristic feature, generally occurring in the second week, peaking in the third week, and normalizing by 4 to 6 weeks after onset in most cases 1.
Determining the Cause
If elevated platelets are discovered, it is crucial to determine whether the cause is primary or secondary, as this affects the treatment approach. Primary thrombocytosis may require medications to reduce platelet production, while secondary thrombocytosis is managed by treating the underlying condition.
From the FDA Drug Label
Thrombotic events, such as stroke, deep vein thrombosis, or myocardial infarction, can be complications of thrombocythemia Thrombocythemia in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for miscarriage, stillbirth, and other maternal outcomes, such as preeclampsia
The causes of elevated platelets are not directly stated in the provided text, but it can be inferred that thrombocythemia is a condition characterized by elevated platelet counts.
- Thrombocythemia can lead to complications such as thrombotic events, miscarriage, stillbirth, and other maternal outcomes.
- The provided text does not explicitly state the causes of elevated platelets, but it discusses the risks and complications associated with thrombocythemia 2.
From the Research
Causes of Elevated Platelets
- Elevated platelets, also known as thrombocytosis, can be caused by various factors, including secondary causes and essential thrombocythemia (ET) 3
- Secondary thrombocytosis can be associated with clinical factors such as:
- Active malignancy
- Chronic inflammatory disease
- Splenectomy
- Iron deficiency anemia These factors can help differentiate secondary thrombocytosis from ET 3
- Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is associated with higher hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), and mean platelet volume (MPV) 3
- In contrast, secondary thrombocytosis is associated with higher body mass index, white blood cells, and neutrophils 3