Why might there be an increased volume of platelets in the blood?

If previously laboratories determined only the level of platelets, today they examine much more indicators of the platelet germ in the blood. First of all, this is the average platelet volume, which is automatically calculated by special devices. The results they produce do not look entirely standard and are represented by two or three letters of the Latin alphabet. Not even all specialists are yet familiar with them, not to mention patients who cannot understand anything at all about the results obtained.

Normal indicators

The average normal platelet volume is measured in femtoliters. Acceptable values ​​vary from 7.5 to 10 fl, however, the parameters may vary slightly depending on the age of the person.

Indicators may also vary depending on the level of equipment of the laboratory and the quality of the research conducted. A detailed interpretation of the results is carried out by a hematologist, who transmits the information to the attending physician.

The average platelet volume in the blood is determined for:

• assessing platelet activity;
• obtaining the level of concentration of biological substances of high activity;
• determining the propensity of such cells to adhere;
• identifying modifications before aggregation.

Often, a blood test will show that the average platelet count is higher, and if the deviation from the norm is minor, then this is considered a completely acceptable condition.

Folk remedies

Sesame oil

This product is one of the most effective remedies for low platelets. To prevent the occurrence of dangerous processes in the body, you need to drink 15 ml of oil every morning before breakfast. It is also recommended to drink sesame oil again before bed, reducing the dosage to 1 tsp. The duration of therapy with oil is 1 month, after which you should take a break.

Nettle

To prepare a medicinal mixture, you need to take fresh plants, squeeze fresh juice out of them - you will need 50 ml. It is mixed with 50 ml of milk and drunk 15-20 minutes before meals. Treatment with this method continues for 14 weeks. At the same time, you need to prepare new juice every day - storing it even in the refrigerator is prohibited.

Important information: Norm of lymphocytes in the blood of children (table by age)

Chokeberry

Improves composition, increases blood viscosity. For this reason, it is recommended for use in cases of low platelet levels. Moreover, you don’t need to prepare any decoctions or infusions - it’s enough to eat 50 g of berries every day. This amount of fruit contains the maximum dosage for an adult per day. You can be treated with this method for no more than 21 days, and increasing the number of days is prohibited, as this can cause harm to the body.

With a slight deviation from the norm, traditional methods of treatment can only be used as an auxiliary therapy, since they help maintain health. They cannot solve the problem of bleeding and do not strengthen the vascular walls.

Reasons for deviations

As stated above, a change in acceptable values ​​is most often facilitated by the occurrence of some pathological process. For example, if the average platelet volume is increased, this indicates rapid blood clotting and a high risk of blood clots.

This violation develops in the following cases:

• posthemorrhagic anemia;
• thalassemia;
• collagenoses;
• thrombocytopenic purpura;
• diabetes;
• thyroid dysfunction;
• absence of spleen;
• bacterial infections;
• May-Hegglin anomaly;
• hypothyroidism;
• tuberculosis;
• sarcoidosis;
• amyloidosis;
• Bernard-Soulier thrombocytodystrophy.

A negative source is also a long-term addiction to drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. It is considered normal for a child to have a higher platelet count than normal. This is due to the incomplete functioning of the circulatory system.

Smoking causes an increase in mean platelet volume

When the average platelet volume is reduced, it is said that the blood's ability to clot is inhibited. This increases the risk of hemorrhage and is characterized by prolonged wound healing. Reasons for this deviation:

• splenomegaly – abnormally enlarged spleen;
• aplastic or megaloblastic anemia;
• Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• leukemia;
• HIV infections;
• bone marrow damage;
• measles;
• arthritis;
• uremia;
• radiation sickness;
• autoimmune diseases;
• DIC syndrome;
• oncopathology;
• myocardial infarction;
• myelodysplastic syndrome.

At the same time, the norm in women can be lowered during menstruation or during pregnancy.

Low absolute cell volume also has a drug etiology.

Irrational use of the following drugs can inhibit platelet synthesis:

• "Analgin";
• "Reopirin";
• "Aspirin";
• "Vinblastine";
• "Biseptol";
• "Levomycetin";
• "Vincristine";
• various sulfonamides.

Platelet cells and their number

Returning to this topic, it is enough to remember that platelets are responsible for the function of the human circulatory system.

In particular, the viscosity (fluidity) of blood plasma and its natural ability to regenerate by forming clots of varying densities at sites of vascular damage depend on them.

Platelets live no more than 8-12 days. The average size of cells indicates their maturity (immature young ones are characterized by increased volume, “old” ones are noticeably reduced).

The most informative and quite accessible method for calculating the average platelet volume is from a blood smear taken from a finger.

This type of diagnosis allows you to determine the exact composition of components in the blood, which, in turn, indicates any changes in the body.

If previous results are confirmed/refuted, it is necessary to conduct a repeat (control) analysis under the same conditions.

Often, the platelet volume is normal, but the occurrence of hematomas on the body may indicate hidden problems.

Symptoms

The average platelet volume, or more precisely, the deviation from normal parameters, has its own clinical manifestations. However, the problem is that any disorder can be completely asymptomatic, or the clinical manifestations are so mild that they go unnoticed.

If the average platelet volume is elevated, the following symptoms may occur:

• bleeding gums;
• easy formation of bruises that do not go away for a long time;
• nasal hemorrhages;
• excessively heavy periods in females;
• skin itching;
• weakness and fatigue;
• constant drowsiness;
• vision problems.

When platelet counts are below normal, symptoms will include:

• hemorrhages in the retina of the eye;
• formation of hematomas;
• frequent nosebleeds;
• the appearance of subcutaneous hemorrhages.

Retinal hemorrhage

In addition to the above symptoms, it is necessary to seek medical help as soon as possible in the following situations:

• a sharp decrease in body weight;
• extreme fatigue (to such an extent that a person cannot get out of bed);
• constant nosebleeds;
• hypertension;
• increased heart rate;
• cyanosis of the skin and excessive pallor of the mucous membranes.

Such symptoms are common for adults and children.

Diet for low average platelet volume

If problems with blood clotting occur, it is important to establish proper nutrition. To do this, the patient is recommended to completely avoid foods such as alcohol of any strength, spicy foods, smoked foods, especially store-bought ones.

To achieve a quick therapeutic result, the patient must significantly enrich the diet with foods high in vitamin A. It is found in beef liver, fish oil (it can be replaced with vitamins), black rowan, and sweet pepper. You should definitely eat green vegetables and fruits. The most beneficial substances for blood vessels are found in green apples, celery and parsley.

Platelet level test

It is recommended to drink freshly squeezed carrot juices and prepare compotes from rose hips, grapes and lingonberry leaves. It will not be superfluous to eat peanuts, walnuts and hazelnuts every day. The table shows the foods with the highest amounts of vitamin A.

Attention! It is also imperative to avoid heavy physical activity, avoid stress, and maintain a day-night routine.

Diagnostics

Blood for a general clinical analysis of the average platelet volume is taken either from a finger or from a vein. A prerequisite is to undergo such a laboratory test on an empty stomach.

The results are obtained using hematological analyzers: they draw a specific curve that displays the distribution of small blood platelets by volume.

If the histogram shifts to the right, then immature cells predominate in the human blood, and if there are many old platelets, then a shift to the left is observed. This is how a hematologist interprets data when mpv is increased or decreased.

In situations where the results of a blood test - the average platelet volume is increased or decreased, that is, there are deviations, it is necessary to find out the cause of their occurrence.

This will require a comprehensive examination of the patient, as well as the implementation of primary diagnostic measures:

• studying the medical history will indicate the provoking disease;
• collection and analysis of life history - it is very important to inform the clinician about taking medications;
• a thorough physical examination of the patient;
• detailed survey of the patient to compile a complete symptomatic picture.

Additional measures include: biochemical and detailed blood tests, specific instrumental procedures and consultations with doctors from various fields of medicine.

What is MPV

If the first symptoms of changes in the composition of the blood on the part of platelets do not appear clearly, then at further stages everything is different. Now another diagnostic problem arises: the symptoms are on the surface, but they can easily be classified as diseases of another category.

The MPV blood test is a determination of the average platelet level through a comprehensive test. Based on its results, the quality of platelets and their activity are judged: whether all functions are performed and what is the level of activity.

The meaning is deciphered the same for all categories of people:

• The predominance of old platelets is indicated by a left-sided shift.
• The presence of a higher content of young cells is indicated by a shift to the right.

The MPV analysis shows the content in the blood of cells that perform hematopoietic functions in the human body, provides information about the total volume of platelets, which affect their increased aggregation, cause thrombosis or active blood loss. The MPV indicator is an additional marker of chronic myeloproliferative diseases in the body.

In adults, the MPV rate is the same (both women and men) and is 6-13 fl. In children under 1 year of age, the MPV norm is 7-7.9 fl, from 1 year to 5 years - 8-8.8 fl.

Indicators for children over 5 years of age are equal to adults.

To determine the index, you need to take a blood test. Using a general analysis, platelet volume is determined.

Treatment

High or low average platelet volume must be corrected, since in any case it poses a danger to human life.

First of all, it is necessary to begin treating the underlying disease with conservative or surgical methods.

To normalize the described parameter, use:

• medications, for example, anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents and vitamin-mineral complexes;
• diet therapy (if the volume is increased, then the menu is enriched with blood thinning products, and if it is decreased, with ingredients high in iron);
• platelet transfusion;
• intravenous administration of immunoglobulins.

Blood thinners

It is also not prohibited to use folk remedies, but only after prior consultation with your doctor.

Prevention and prognosis

You can prevent fluctuations in the average volume of small blood platelets by following a few simple preventive recommendations, namely:

• complete abstinence from alcohol and nicotine;
• avoiding the entry of chemicals and poisons into the body;
• avoiding exposure to radiation;
• healthy and nutritious nutrition;
• adequate use of medications with strict adherence to the clinician’s rules;
• maintaining an active lifestyle;
• Regularly undergoing a comprehensive examination at a medical institution with visits to all specialists.

The prognosis depends entirely on the factor that provoked this or that deviation from the norm. Patients need to remember that, in addition to the above consequences, each basic disease has a number of its own complications, which often end in death.

Normal values

Like all elements, platelet content is measured in thousands per 1 μl of blood. The norm is a relative concept; it depends on many factors. Sometimes the indicators are higher than normal or lower. This is gender and age. Values ​​for adults differ from those for children.

In men, the norm is considered to be about 200-400 thousand units/μl. For a woman, normal values ​​range from 180 to 320 thousand. In addition, women may experience a temporary decrease in the index, which most often occurs during pregnancy (100-310 thousand) and menstruation (up to 75-220 thousand). This is considered normal and no treatment is required.

In children, the platelet rate is distributed by age:

• in newborns - 100-420 thousand units/μl,
• for a child from 2 weeks to 12 months - 150-350 thousand.
• from 1 year to 5 years - 180-380 thousand.
• from 5 to 7 years - 180-450 thousand.

Adults and children need to have a blood test every year. This is necessary in order to determine the number of blood platelets in the biomaterial and, if a deviation from the norm occurs, prevent this process in time. This way you can prevent the development of increased or, conversely, decreased blood clotting.