Platelets Question
 

Hey everyone, I posted a while back about my counts dropping and having a persistent low grade fever. I had my labs checked again last Friday and have a question about platelets. My platelets have dropped from 282 then to 231, and now they are 211. This drop has been in exactly four weeks. Is a fluctuation in platelets like this normal? My son has PNH, and so I know quite a lot about hemolysis and red cells, but don't really know much about platelets. I tried looking it up online but have not found much. Any insights would be appreciated! Thanks.

Topcow (Michelle)

normal for platelets is 150-400. The only issue is if the trend continues.

Fevers will affect platelets so it's not unusual for them to them drop when fighting an infection or when you have a fever. Has the fever resolved?

No, the fever has not resolved. In fact it has gotten worse. It has been going on for a month and now starts earlier in the day and does not always go down when I take something for it. I also have unexplained anemia and my hgb has gone up since beginning iron supplements but my ferritin is not coming up as much as the doc thinks it should.

All the labs my docs have done show no signs of any type of infection, that is why the fever has them scratching their heads. The past 4-5 days I have now been getting daily headaches too. I know it is time to see a hematologist, I am just wondering if platelets normally fluctuate or if they tend to stay pretty steady.

Topcow

All blood lines can and will fluctuate. Fevers of an unknown origin are difficult to figure out. Glad you are pursuing this further. Have you been to an infectious disease doc too? You may have to see multiple specialist before you get a conclusive diagnosis.

My doctor took me off Pepcid AC, said it will lower platelets, many OTC pain relievers can also affect blood counts...

With that being said, fluctuations tend to be normal, even some wild swings... The swings can be due to illness, but as long as they stays in the normal range, it could just be due to your body making other types of blood cells, and the normal life cycle of the different types of blood cells...

All the best...