Without platelets, we would die pretty easily. The microscopic plate-shaped structures in our bloodstream rush to the site of an injury, forming clots that stop blood loss and help stimulate the ...

The field of immunological tolerance increasingly highlights the multifaceted roles played by platelets far beyond their classical functions in hemostasis.

Platelets contain and can synthesize molecules capable of modulating adaptive and innate immune responses. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), platelets are activated, their abundance often ...

Primary thrombocytopenia is an autoimmune disorder that causes a low number of platelets in the blood. Other names for it are immune thrombocytopenia and ITP. Platelets are specialized blood cells ...

If you have low blood platelet levels, it’s known as thrombocytopenia, or “thin blood.” It’s not always usually a cause for concern but can be a sign of an underlying condition. Your bloodstream has ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 33 years old and recently had an annual physical and routine blood work. I'm active with two children and feel fantastic, but my platelet count came back as 651. My health care ...

When the polar vortex froze out residents in much the United States in January, it also sent chills through the U.S. blood system, especially for people who needed platelets. “If you are safely able ...

Some medications can cause a low platelet count, which can lead to excessive bleeding. Heparin is the most frequent cause, but common drugs like acetaminophen and some antibiotics can also cause ...