Blood platelet deficiency. See Platelet Storage Pool Deficiency, and Blood Platelet Disorders programs.Encyclopedia Entry for Thrombocytopenia :Thrombocytopenia - drug induced. Drug-induced thrombocytopenia occurs when certain medicines destroy platelets or interfere with the body's ability to make enough of them. There are two types of drug-induced thrombocytopenia: immune and nonimmune. If a medicine causes your body to produce antibodies , which seek and destroy your platelets, the condition is called drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Heparin, a blood thinner, is the most common cause of drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia. If a medicine prevents your bone marrow from making enough platelets, the condition is called drug-induced nonimmune thrombocytopenia. Chemotherapy drugs and a seizure medicine called valproic acid may lead to this problem. Other medicines that cause drug-induced thrombocytopenia include: Furosemide Gold, used to treat arthritis Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Penicillin Quinidine Quinine Ranitidine Sulfonamides Linezolid and other antibiotics.Decreased platelets may cause: Abnormal bleeding Bleeding when you brush your teeth Easy bruising Pinpoint red spots on the skin ( petechiae ).The first step is to stop using the medicine that is causing the problem. For people who have life-threatening bleeding, treatments may include: Immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG) given through a vein Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) Platelet transfusions Corticosteroid medicine.Bleeding can be life threatening if it occurs in the brain or other organs. A pregnant woman who has antibodies to platelets may pass the antibodies to the baby in the womb.Call your healthcare provider if you have unexplained bleeding or bruising.Drug-induced thrombocytopenia; Immune thrombocytopenia - drug.Blood clot formation Blood clot formation Blood clots Blood clots.Abrams CS. Thrombocytopenia.Encyclopedia Entry for Thrombocytopenia :Thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia is often divided into 3 major causes of low platelets: Not enough platelets are made in the bone marrow Increased breakdown of platelets in the bloodstream Increased breakdown of platelets in the spleen or liver Your bone marrow may not make enough platelets if you have any of the following conditions: Aplastic anemia (disorder in which the bone marrow does not make enough blood cells) Cancer in the bone marrow, such as leukemia Cirrhosis (liver scarring) Folate deficiency Infections in the bone marrow (very rare) Myelodysplastic syndrome (bone marrow does not make enough blood cells or makes defective cells) Vitamin B12 deficiency Use of certain drugs may also lead to a low production of platelets in the bone marrow. The most common example is chemotherapy treatment. The following health conditions cause increased breakdown of platelets: Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become over active, most often during a serious illness ( DIC ) Drug-induced low platelet count Enlarged spleen Disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets ( ITP ) Disorder that causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels, causing a low platelet count ( TTP ).You may not have any symptoms. Or you may have general symptoms, such as: Bleeding in the mouth and gums Bruising Nosebleeds Rash (pinpoint red spots called petechiae) Other symptoms depend on the cause.Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history and symptoms. The following tests may be done: Complete blood count (CBC) Blood clotting tests ( PTT and PT ) Other tests that may help diagnose this condition include bone marrow aspiration or biopsy.Treatment depends on the cause of the condition. In some cases, a transfusion of platelets may be required to stop or prevent bleeding.The outcome depends on the disorder causing the low platelet counts.Severe bleeding (hemorrhage) is the main complication. Bleeding may occur in the brain or gastrointestinal tract.Call your provider if you experience unexplained bleeding or bruising.Prevention depends on the specific cause.Low platelet count - thrombocytopenia.Abrams CS. Thrombocytopenia.