High platelets: what it can be, how to identify it and how to reduce it

High platelet can happen due to intense physical activity, stress or be a consequence of labor. However, the increase in the amount of platelets, called thrombocytosis or thrombocytosis, can also be indicative of diseases, such as hemolytic anemia, iron deficiency anemia, myeloproliferative syndrome or leukemia, for example.

High platelet usually does not cause a sign or symptom, being identified through the blood count. A platelet count is considered high when more than 450,000 platelets/µL of blood are identified. Learn more about platelets.

Thus, if there is an increase in platelet concentration, it is important that the hematologist or general practitioner is consulted so that the cause of plateletosis is identified and, thus, it is possible to start the most appropriate treatment.

Causes of high platelets

The main causes of high platelets are:

Intense physical activity;
Labor;
Stress;
Use of adrenaline;
Smoking;
Severe hemolytic anemia;
Iron deficiency anemia;
Myeloproliferative Syndromes, such as Essential Thrombocythemia, Polycythemia Vera and Myelofibrosis;
Sarcoidosis;
Acute and chronic infections;
Leukemia;
After acute bleeding;
After removal of the spleen, known as splenectomy;
Neoplasms;
Ulcerative colitis;
After operations.

It is important that the cause of the increase in platelets is identified so that the doctor can indicate the best treatment option.

How to identify

High platelets can be identified by performing a blood count, which checks the amount of circulating platelets, as well as other blood cells and their characteristics. However, to identify the cause of the increase in the number of platelets, the doctor may recommend performing other tests to confirm the cause and, thus, initiate the most appropriate treatment.

In most cases the increase in the amount of platelets does not cause symptoms, however in some situations, depending on the cause, the person may experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness and tingling of the extremities, for example.

How to know if the result is normal

To find out if your platelet count is normal or abnormal, enter your test result in the calculator below:

How to reduce high platelets

According to the concentration of platelets in the blood, presence of symptoms and general condition of the person, the general practitioner or hematologist may recommend the use of acetylsalicylic acid in order to reduce the risk of thrombosis, or hydroxyurea, which is a drug capable of decreasing the production of blood cells by the bone marrow.

In addition, if the platelet concentration is very high to the point of putting the patient's life at risk due to the high chance of clot formation, therapeutic thrombocytopheresis may be recommended, which is a procedure by which the excess of platelets is extracted with the aid of an equipment, being, therefore, able to balance the values of circulating platelets.