Sources Of Platelets

Platelets are fragments in the blood that prevent clotting that are manufactured in the bone marrow -- the spongy, soft tissue, lying in the center of long bones, like those in legs. People with a low platelet counts (a condition known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, ITP) risk mild consequences, such as bruising, or more severe ones, such as anemia and internal bleeding. Sources exist for patients in need of platelets, including medications, platelet donations, stem cells transplants and a surgical procedure.

Drugs

• ITP treatment is based on the platelet count and the bleeding severity. The first treatment is usually medication. Numerous drugs are on the market to increase platelet count. Corticosteroids, or steroids, such as prednisone, is one of the most commonly used, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These steroids reduce immune activity, which can increase platelet count. Some patients, however, have side effects, which sometimes appears when treatment ends. Other drugs, given intravenously, are immune globulin and anti-RH (D) immunoglobulin.

Donations

• Donation is another source of thrombocytes, another name for platelets. In this procedure, an intervenous needle is used to remove blood from a donor's arm. Platelets are then separated out from the blood in a "sophisticated cell-separating machine," according to the Red Cross. The remainder of the blood is returned either to the same or other arm. Enough platelets are removed to provide one to three patient treatments.

Stem Cells

• Stem cells in the blood are young cells which grow into various blood components, such as platelets and red and white blood cells. They are manufactured inside the bone marrow. When the stem cells have matured, they leave the bone marrow and enter the blood stream. The platelet stem cells can then be removed, stored and later transplanted into an ITP patient.

Splenectomy

• When other treatments fail and bleeding is severe, removing the spleen surgically is perhaps a final source for platelets. The spleen is an organ in the upper left abdomen -- as small as a ping-pong in children and as large as an orange in adults. It produces antibodies, proteins which assist in fighting infections, but those in the spleen can destroy platelets. Spleen removal stops the platelet destruction.