What is the difference between platelets and red blood cells

Like red blood cells, old platelets are phagocytosed. Reserve platelets are stored in the spleen. When a blood vessel tears, platelets adhere to the damaged blood vessel wall near the tear, forming a platelet plug. At this point, they change from their inactive to their active shape, and they empty the contents of their granules.

At the site of an injury, the platelets connect to one another and release chemicals that stimulate blood clotting. Proteins called clotting factors form fibrin threads that, together with the platelets, form a clot. See more from our free eBook library. Information about carbon monoxide poisoning from the Mayo Clinic. Information about sickle cell anemia from the Mayo Clinic. Overview of Blood. Granular Myeloid White Blood Cells. Agranular Myeloid White Blood Cells. Lymphoid White Blood Cells.

Rare conditions result in the bone marrow producing too many platelets, sometimes as many as one million or two million per microliter.

In some of these patients, there are increased risks for blood clots, but many patients with these disorders have no problems. Thrombocytopenia is the principal focus of this website.

Thrombocytopenia can be caused by failure of the bone marrow to produce normal numbers of platelets. Bone marrow failure has multiple causes. These are not discussed on this website. Thrombocytopenia can also be caused by increased destruction of platelets once they are produced and released into the circulating blood.

These disorders are the focus of this website. They are described briefly here and in more detail in their specific sections on this website. Immune Thrombocytopenia ITP - This disorder, described in its own section on this website, is caused both by increased platelet destruction and also decreased bone marrow platelet production.

These problems are caused by autoantibodies. Antibodies are proteins normally made by a type of white blood cells to react with and defend against foreign materials. For example, antibodies are normally formed to bacteria and viruses, and help with the healing process. Antibodies are normally stimulated by immunization and vaccination, to prevent infections.

Antibodies normally react with organ transplants and attempt to reject these transplants. Autoantibodies are abnormal. These occur when antibody-producing cells receive mixed signals, and identify a normal body tissue as foreign and try to reject it.

The term, autoantibody, means an antibody that reacts with the person herself, not foreign material. The autoantibodies destroy the platelets rapidly after they are produced. The autoantibodies also react with the bone marrow megakaryocytes and inhibit platelet production. The information included in this website is for educational purposes only. The designers and operators of this site take no responsibility for the things you may do with this information. For advice on your unique medical condition, please consult your health care professional.

By going further into this website you acknowledge that you have read and understood this disclaimer. Menu: Home. Thrombotic Microangiopathy.

Complement-mediated TMA. Platelets In this section we introduce platelets themselves. Platelets are the smallest of the three major types of blood cells. The normal platelet count is ,, per microliter of blood, but since platelets are so small, they make up just a tiny fraction of the blood volume. Leukemia may be either acute or chronic. Chronic leukemia advances more slowly.

Myelodysplastic syndrome MDS is a condition affecting the white blood cells in your bone marrow. The body produces too many immature cells, called blasts. The blasts multiply and crowd out the mature and healthy cells.

Myelodysplastic syndrome may progress either slowly or quite fast. It sometimes leads to leukemia. Blood platelets are the first responders when you have a cut or other injury. They gather at the site of the injury, creating a temporary plug to stop blood loss. If you have a platelet disorder, your blood has one of three abnormalities:. Platelet disorders are primarily genetic, meaning they are inherited.

Some of these disorders include:. Von Willebrand disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder. It is caused by a deficiency of a protein that helps your blood clot, called von Willebrand factor VWF. Hemophilia is probably the best-known blood clotting disorder. It occurs almost always in males. The most serious complication of hemophilia is excessive and prolonged bleeding. This bleeding can be either inside or outside your body.

The bleeding can start for no apparent reason. Treatment involves a hormone called desmopressin for mild type A, which can promote release of more of the reduced clotting factor, and infusions of blood or plasma for types B and C.

Primary thrombocythemia is a rare disorder that can lead to increased blood clotting. This puts you at higher risk for stroke or heart attack. The disorder occurs when your bone marrow produces too many platelets. Certain drugs and medical conditions can also affect the functioning of platelets. Be sure to coordinate all your medications with your doctor, even over-the-counter ones you choose yourself.

The Canadian Hemophilia Association CHA warns that the following common drugs may affect platelets, especially if taken long-term. There are a large variety of disorders that affect the plasma cells, the type of white blood cells in your body that make antibodies. Platelets have a different, and still very important function. Because of them, when we bleed, our blood clots. When we draw platelets from donors, they are sent through the same gamut of tests as RBCs, then shipped to the hospitals to use for patients who may not have enough of them to control their bleeding.

Patients undergoing treatment for cancer are the primary users of platelets. Because such a small, insignificant number of RBCs that, as you remember, carry oxygen to our organs are lost during a platelet donation, donors feel little, if any, fatigue afterwards. Platelets regenerate quickly and can be donated every 72 hours, up to 24 times in a year.