What are platelets?
Plates together with the red link and plasma form the main part of human and animal blood. Microscopically look like small thorny or pointed ovals and can only be perceived microscopic, because the average size is about four hundred thousandths of inches (1 to 3.5 skills). In fact, the plates are fragments of cells in the bone marrow, which are called megakaryocytes. Plates stimulated by hormonal thrombopetin break megacaryocytes and enter the bloodstream where they circulate about 10 days before their short lives in the spleen. In a healthy body, thrombopoetin will help maintain the number of platelets at a normal level, which is approximately 4.2-6.1 million of these small cells for two hundred thousand teaspoons (1UL) blood. Most of them are known if one accepts a cut or bruise. Specifically, the plates provide the necessary hormones and proteins for coagulation. Collagen is released when the blood vessel is damaged. The plate recognizes collagen and begins to work on blood coagulation by creating a certain kindplugs, so further damage to the blood vessel is prevented.
higher than the normal number of platelets, known as thrombocytosis, can cause serious health risks. Too much blood clotting can lead to the formation of blood clots that can cause stroke. Conversely, lower than normal number can lead to extensive bleeding.
However, in some cases, the induction of a lower number of plates is desirable, for example, if a person has susceptibility to drafts or has had extensive heart repair. The number of platelets can be reduced by daily intake of aspirin or other drugs decreasing. In addition, when the patient has an intravenous drop (IV), heparin is used to prevent clotting IV so that the fluid can be taken either or add to the body.
Disease or genetic disorder may cause lower platelet number, sometimes they are exhausted due to specific treatment or surgical procedure. BurningThe victims, patients with organ transplant, patients with marrow transplantation, patients undergoing chemotherapy, and those who have undergone heart surgery often require not only blood transfusions, but also transfusions of plates.
Almost anyone who is able to donate blood and does not take aspirin or other anticoagulance is also eligible for donating plate, called plate or aperesis. In this case, the blood is taken and placed in a centrifuge where the plates are separated from other blood products. The rest of the blood returns to the body instead of being collected because it would be in regular blood donation. The procedure takes about 90 minutes in two hours.
After the assembly, the plates have only a durability of about five days and one gift provides only the sixth transfusion unit of the plate. Due to the toms with bone marrow transplantation often require up to 120 units of platelets, it is the previous conclusion that new gifts of plates are required daily. Information on the donation of the plate is availableICI from local blood banks.