What is thrombocytopenia and how does dexamethasone help?

Thrombocytopenia is a medical disorder wherein the number of platelets in the blood is reduced. A normal range of platelets is between 150,000 and 400,000 platelets for each microliter of blood present. People who have thrombocytopenia often have a platelet count that is around 150,000 platelets per microliter or lower. Platelets in the blood are what helps your body to produce blood clots to assist in the stoppage of bleeding.

How does one contract thrombocytopenia?

While thrombocytopenia is generally thought to be an inherited medical condition, it is also caused by other medical complications and some drugs. People who have conditions such as Epstein-Barr, Hepatitis C and HIV are more at risk for contracting (or developing) thrombocytopenia. Other reasons include excessive alcohol consumption, radiation or chemotherapy, and high Vitamin B12 deficiencies (which leads to anemia).

What is dexamethasone?

Dexamethasone is a type of steroid medication that alleviates symptoms such as inflammation, itching, redness, skin conditions (such as psoriasis) and other medical conditions. It is a steroid that stops the release of hormonal and other bodily substances from being released into the body that cause inflammation and other problems. It is used to treat skin conditions (such as eczema and psoriasis), arthritis conditions, allergic disorders of the skin, and some breathing disorders.

How can Dexamethasone help treat thrombocytopenia?

While studies are few at this time, it has been proved that intense low doses of intravenously or orally used Dexamethasone can increase platelet count and reduce the symptoms of thrombocytopenia. It causes the swelling of the blood vessels and the spleen to be reduced allowing more blood flow, which increases platelet counts.

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