DEAR DR. ROACH: My brother has low blood platelets and anemia. He will be 73 this year and has had three back surgeries. What causes low blood platelets? Can anything be done to raise platelet count?

Some medications can cause a low platelet count, which can lead to excessive bleeding. Heparin is the most frequent cause, but common drugs like acetaminophen and some antibiotics can also cause ...

Q: My platelets were slightly elevated on my blood test. What can cause this? A: Platelets are part of how our body forms clots to stop bleeding. They are produced in the bone marrow by cells called ...

Because leukemia is a blood cancer, it can affect a person’s platelet count. People with leukemia sometimes have a low platelet count. However, other conditions can also cause low platelets. Leukemia ...

How low can a platelet count get before you suspect heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)? —Higinio R. Lopez, MD, Newark, Del. During heparin therapy, any unexplained decrease that reduces the ...

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia is a rare but potentially life threatening condition in newborns. It can cause bleeding in the brain and long-term effects. Treatment usually involves a platelet ...

What Is Doptelet, and Why Does It Matter? Doptelet (avatrombopag) is a prescription medicine that helps the body make more platelets (cells that help stop bleeding). First approved in 2018 for adults, ...

Dear Dr. Roach: My husband was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2010 and remained in stage 2 with no effects until 2022. In the interim, he was also diagnosed with atrial ...

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is a disorder that affects pregnant people and their fetuses. It occurs when the birthing parent’s immune system produces antibodies that attack and destroy ...

Dear Dr. Roach: My brother has low blood platelets and anemia. He will be 73 this year and has had three back surgeries. What causes low blood platelets? Can anything be done to raise platelet count?