Low Platelet Count

[1cc]

My platelet count is slightly below the normal range. One of the symptoms is easy bruising, which I have. This is the first time it has dropped below normal.

Platelet Count 143 150-400

A low platelet count can be caused by some sort of internal bleeding. I take 6 grams of fish oil per day and 600iu of vitamin E d-alpha-tocophyrel. Both of these thin the blood, which I'm thinking may be causing this.

Anyone have any information about this?

[HeadDoc]

good thought! I reviewed Ron Rothenberg's articles on omega 3's before responding and I could not find anything that would directly answer your question. However, an imbalance of the omega's and an ensuing increase in the wrong eiconosoids would have the opposite effect: platlet aggregation. Sorry I don't have a better answer. At my height and weight, 6 gms would not be unreasonable. I'm a big guy (6'1", 235 lbs.). Ron also indicated that the purity of the oil mattered. The closer to pharmaceutical grade the less would be needed.

I guess, if it were me, I'd cut back and retest. On the other hand, my doc would also be able to tell me whether this value is something that I should be concerned about.

[cpeil2]

Originally Posted by 1cc

My platelet count is slightly below the normal range. One of the symptoms is easy bruising, which I have. This is the first time it has dropped below normal.

Platelet Count 143 150-400

A low platelet count can be caused by some sort of internal bleeding. I take 6 grams of fish oil per day and 600iu of vitamin E d-alpha-tocophyrel. Both of these thin the blood, which I'm thinking may be causing this.

Anyone have any information about this?

Each agent by itself has a pretty mild platelet effect, even in the amounts you are taking (I am on high-intensity warfarin therapy, and I am still allowed up to 800 IU of vit E). But maybe their additive effect is enough to make you bruise a little easier.

How was your Hct? If you had a platelet count done, you must have had a CBC. Hct is ususally how they pick up internal bleeding.


I don't think anti-platelet agents decrease platelet nos., they effect platelet adhesiveness.

Your platelet count is so close to normal, that it is still essentially normal, although it merits a re-check.

[1cc]

I don't think it is a major concern yet, because it is very close to normal. I do however like everything to be within the normal ranges. I will be stopping the Fish Oil and vitamin E for a while and then test again to see if that is the cause. My RBC and Hematocrit are a little above normal, so I donated a pint of blood yesterday at the red cross, which resolved that last time they were elevated.

Another interesting fact is that people usually take blood thinners because the Platelets are what causes blood clotting. I read somewhere that an elevated Hematocrit is less of a concern depending on how high Platelet counts are. I thought that was interesting.

I will be seeing my doc in the next couple of days. I just wanted to see if anyone had any helpfull information about this.

WBC 5.2 4.1 11.3
RBC 5.69 4.20-5.50 High
Hemoglobin 16.7 13.0-17.0
Hematocrit 51.8 37.5-50.7 High
MCV 91 82-103
MCH 29.4 27.0-34.0
MCHC 32.3 30.9-35.4
RDW 13.1 10.8-14.8
Platelet Count 143 150-400 Low
MPV 9.0 7.1-12.1
Neutrophils 58.4%
Lymphocites 31.1%
Monocytes 9.1%
Eosinophils 0.4%
Basophils 1.0%
Nucleated RBC's 0 per 100 WBCS
Absolute Neutrophils 3037 1500-7800
Absolute Lymphocites 1617 850-3900
Absolute Monocytes 473 200-950
Absolute Eosinophils 21 15-500
Absolute Basophils 52 0-200
Absolute Nucleated RBC's 0 0

[cpeil2]

Originally Posted by 1cc

I don't think it is a major concern yet, because it is very close to normal. I do however like everything to be within the normal ranges. I will be stopping the Fish Oil and vitamin E for a while and then test again to see if that is the cause. My RBC and Hematocrit are a little above normal, so I donated a pint of blood yesterday at the red cross, which resolved that last time they were elevated.

Another interesting fact is that people usually take blood thinners because the Platelets are what causes blood clotting. I read somewhere that an elevated Hematocrit is less of a concern depending on how high Platelet counts are. I thought that was interesting.

I will be seeing my doc in the next couple of days. I just wanted to see if anyone had any helpfull information about this.

WBC 5.2 4.1 11.3
RBC 5.69 4.20-5.50 High
Hemoglobin 16.7 13.0-17.0
Hematocrit 51.8 37.5-50.7 High
MCV 91 82-103
MCH 29.4 27.0-34.0
MCHC 32.3 30.9-35.4
RDW 13.1 10.8-14.8
Platelet Count 143 150-400 Low
MPV 9.0 7.1-12.1
Neutrophils 58.4%
Lymphocites 31.1%
Monocytes 9.1%
Eosinophils 0.4%
Basophils 1.0%
Nucleated RBC's 0 per 100 WBCS
Absolute Neutrophils 3037 1500-7800
Absolute Lymphocites 1617 850-3900
Absolute Monocytes 473 200-950
Absolute Eosinophils 21 15-500
Absolute Basophils 52 0-200
Absolute Nucleated RBC's 0 0

Actually, come to think of it, a lowish platelet count with an elevated Hct might not be such a bad thing - the elevated Hct increases blood viscosity, which increases risk of clotting. A lower platelet count could help to reduce the risk of clotting caused by the increased blood viscosity.

I'm sure you know that "blood thinners" don't actually effect blood viscosity. Blood thinners like aspirin decrease platelet adhesiveness. The others, like warfarin, inhibit clotting proteins.

[FunkOdyssey]

Scientists Find New Role for Estrogen
It triggers formation of blood platelets, researchers say


MONDAY, Dec. 1 (HealthDayNews) -- Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered a previously unknown role estrogen plays in the body.

The most abundant form of naturally occurring estrogen, estradiol, triggers the formation of blood platelets, scientists report in the Dec. 1 issue of Genes and Development .

Might want to check your E2.

[1cc]

Originally Posted by FunkOdyssey

Might want to check your E2.

Thanks, that was very interesting. My Estradiol is 29 13-54, so I guess that probably can be ruled out.

[marianco]

Originally Posted by 1cc

My platelet count is slightly below the normal range. One of the symptoms is easy bruising, which I have. This is the first time it has dropped below normal.

Platelet Count 143 150-400

Look up the subject "Thrombocytopenia" on Google to find resources about it. A couple:

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic987.htm
http://moon.ouhsc.edu/jgeorge/

There are multiple causes of low platelet counts including auto-immune diseases where antibodies to platelets cause platelets to be stuck in the spleen, where they are destroyed; and drug-induced conditions, where platelet production from bone marrow is reduced.

[mxim]

my friend had the same problem and his doc said not to worry;it was because he was on a very low fat diet and worked out. in other words,he was in fantastic shape. better blood flow i suspect.

[1cc]

It's been a couple months now that I stopped the vitamin E and Fish oil. My platelet count has recovered back to normal. I have also noticed that I don't bruise as easily anymore, and after a shot I don't bleed as much. I do however need to donate a pint of blood because my RBC, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit are elevated.

WBC 5.9 4.1-11.3
RBC 5.83 4.20-5.50 High
Hemoglobin 17.6 13.0-17.0 High
Hematocrit 54.2 37.5-50.7 High
MCV 93 82-103
MCH 30.2 27.0-34.0
MCHC 32.6 30.9-35.4
RDW 12.8 10.8-14.8
Platelet Count 190 150-400 Normal
MPV 9.3 7.1-12.1
Neutrophils 60.7%
Lymphocites 30.9%
Monocytes 7.3%
Eosinophils 0.9%
Basophils 0.2%
Nucleated RBC's 0 per 100 WBCS
Absolute Neutrophils 3581 1500-7800
Absolute Lymphocites 1823 850-3900
Absolute Monocytes 431 200-950
Absolute Eosinophils 53 15-500
Absolute Basophils 12 0-200
Absolute Nucleated RBC's 0 0

[HeadDoc]

thanks for the follow up.

[FunkOdyssey]

Hmm, I thought fish oil reduced platelet aggregation (tendency to clump up and clot), not actual platelet count.

You think fish oil directly reduced your platelet count in this case?

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by 1cc

It's been a couple months now that I stopped the vitamin E and Fish oil. My platelet count has recovered back to normal. I have also noticed that I don't bruise as easily anymore, and after a shot I don't bleed as much. I do however need to donate a pint of blood because my RBC, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit are elevated.

WBC 5.9 4.1-11.3
RBC 5.83 4.20-5.50 High
Hemoglobin 17.6 13.0-17.0 High
Hematocrit 54.2 37.5-50.7 High
MCV 93 82-103
MCH 30.2 27.0-34.0
MCHC 32.6 30.9-35.4
RDW 12.8 10.8-14.8
Platelet Count 190 150-400 Normal
MPV 9.3 7.1-12.1
Neutrophils 60.7%
Lymphocites 30.9%
Monocytes 7.3%
Eosinophils 0.9%
Basophils 0.2%
Nucleated RBC's 0 per 100 WBCS
Absolute Neutrophils 3581 1500-7800
Absolute Lymphocites 1823 850-3900
Absolute Monocytes 431 200-950
Absolute Eosinophils 53 15-500
Absolute Basophils 12 0-200
Absolute Nucleated RBC's 0 0

How much fish oil did you take a day my Dr. told me 4 to 5 g's a day but I can't stand the back up taste. I cut back on my fish oil a long time ago went from 12 gel caps a day to 3.

[cpeil2]

Originally Posted by pmgamer18

How much fish oil did you take a day my Dr. told me 4 to 5 g's a day but I can't stand the back up taste. I cut back on my fish oil a long time ago went from 12 gel caps a day to 3.

My doc told me that if it has any fish taste to it, it's rancid. The Carlsson's has zero fish taste. It is lemon-flavored, but I think it would have a completely neutral taste even without the lemon flavoring.

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by cpeil2

My doc told me that if it has any fish taste to it, it's rancid. The Carlsson's has zero fish taste. It is lemon-flavored, but I think it would have a completely neutral taste even without the lemon flavoring.

Hay fish has a taste break one of them open and smell it and taste it. My caps are coated and don't back up on me but taking a lot of them coated or not they will back up on me.