Wednesday's Word

[DonnaBoll]

platelets

These are very tiny fragments of blood cells that are responsible for our blood clotting.

In PBC, they are a useful tool to see if a patient has portal hypertension. In this condition, there is swelling of the spleen and the blood pools - leading to a reduction in our platelet count.

A value of less than 150 is a strong indication of possibly portal hypertension ( increased pressure within the portal (liver) vein) and eventual cirrhosis.

Always make sure one of your routine lab tests is a CBC - a complete blood count. This allows you to see if there are any signs of anemia, infection, or problems with your platelet count.

[gwillistexas]

my platelets stay mid to high 200’s to mid 300’s. I think My hep said he would be concerned if they ever dropped to 117. I keep an eye on it as well as all other levels.

[Sewfast]

Thank you Donna, you impart such useful information which is always very helpful. I was sorry to hear you were in pain recently, I hope you are feeling better now. Personally I find it very frustrating if a cause can’t be found for health problems, even if the results are difficult to hear I cope better if I know what I am dealing with. Best wishes.

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to Sewfast]

Thank you for your kind words. I am better. It does seem that with that such pain, there should be a reason but.....