Why are platelets so important?
Platelets are small, sticky, components of the blood formed in the bone marrow (the soft, porous tissue found in the long bones of the body). Their job is to maintain the integrity of the blood vessels and seal small cuts and wounds by forming a blood clot. If the blood doesn’t have enough platelets it is unable to clot as rapidly as needed. The result is excessive bruising and the tendency for people with ITP to bleed for a long time when cut or wounded. It is possible, with a very low platelet count, to have spontaneous bleeding including a cerebral hemorrhage, bleeding in the brain.
Platelets are small, sticky, components of the blood formed in the bone marrow (the soft, porous tissue found in the long bones of the body). Their job is to maintain the integrity of the blood vessels and seal small cuts and wounds by forming a blood clot. If the blood doesn’t have enough platelets it is unable to clot successfully. The result is excessive bruising and the tendency for people with ITP to bleed for a long time. It is possible, with a very low platelet count, to have spontaneous bleeding including a cerebral hemorrhage.
