Published: 24/03/2021
Keywords: Platelets, Thrombocytosis, high, blood

What does a high count of platelets in the blood mean?

A platelet count above the normal rate in blood test is called thrombocytosis.

There are two main types of thrombocytosis:

Primary or essential: Abnormal cells in the bone marrow cause an increase in platelets. It can be hereditary (rare) or acquired (more frequent).
Secondary or reactive: It is due to underlying events, disease, or the use of certain medications such as iron deficiency anemia, cancer, and splenectomy. If the underlying cause is treated, the thrombocytosis may be reverted.

If you have a high number of platelets in the blood you will experience vasomotor symptoms, including headache, visual changes, syncope or chest pain) and cardiovascular disorders. Thrombocytosis increase the risk to suffer a stroke, a heart attack or a clot in the blood vessels.

Thrombocytosis is an emerging risk marker of malignant cancer, so it I s very important to study any unexplained thrombocytosis.

Thrombocytosis or a high platelet count in the blood means:

Mild thrombocytosis (400 - 500 x 10³/µl in adults):

A mild thrombocytosis with no symptoms attached is not a matter for concern.

Many causes may raise temporarily your platelets in the blood. It may be due to iron deficiency anemia where platelets count does not usually exceed 500 x 10³/µl in adults.

Moderate thrombocytosis (500 - 700 x 10³/µl in adults) :

A moderate thrombocytosis requires a visit to your doctor. It is necessary to study the underlying causes if there is an increase above 600 x 10³/µl in adults.

A moderate thrombocytosis may be due to an infection (respiratory, gastrointestinal or urinary).

Marked thrombocytosis (700 - 900 x 10³/µl in adults) :

A marked thrombocytosis requires a study to know the underlying causes.

It is usually related to secondary or reactive thrombocytosis due to an infection, an inflammatory disease (ulcerative colitis, arthritis, celiac disease, etc.) or produced by medication.

Reactive thrombocytosis does not usually exceed 800 x 10³ platelets/µl in adults compared with primary thrombocytosis, which has much higher platelet count.

Severe thrombocytosis (> 900 x 10³/µl in adults) :

A severe thrombocytosis are a matter for concern and require immediate medical attention.

It may be due to essential thrombocythemia, a rare chronic blood cancer characterized by the overproduction of platelets. The diagnosis is based on a platelet count above 1000 x 10³/µl and when a reactive or secondary thrombocytosis is excluded. It may be also due to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Essential thrombocythemia increases the risk of blood clots that can lead to a stroke or a heart attack.

There are some health circumstances or drugs than can raise your platelet count:

Which diseases can increase your platelet count in the blood?

A platelet count higher than normal may be a sign of the following diseases:

Chronic myeloid leukemia
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Primary myelofibrosis
Pancreatitis
Tuberculosis
Whooping cough
POEMS syndrome
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Osteomyelitis

What can I do to lower the platelet count in the blood?

If you have a high count of platelets in the blood, you can follow the next tips:

Give up smoking.
Follow a healthy diet with an increase in the intake of vegetables and fish rich in Omega 3.

To avoid the clots in the blood you can consider the following tips:

Moderate intake of red wine (1 or 2 glasses per day) may help to reduce the risk of blood clotting.
Some products sold at pharmacy, such as Ginkgo or Ginseng may help to reduce platelet aggregation.
Once-daily low-dose aspirin (80 mg/day) is often recommended as a means of reducing thrombosis risk and reduce high platelet count.

Which values are considered a high platelet count in the blood?

The following values are considered to be above the normal range:

IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in number of thousands/µl (microliter). They are an example of a healthy white man/woman of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.

Platelets
Mild thrombocytosis
401 x 10³/µl	402 x 10³/µl	403 x 10³/µl	404 x 10³/µl	405 x 10³/µl	406 x 10³/µl	407 x 10³/µl	408 x 10³/µl
409 x 10³/µl	410 x 10³/µl	411 x 10³/µl	412 x 10³/µl	413 x 10³/µl	414 x 10³/µl	415 x 10³/µl	416 x 10³/µl
417 x 10³/µl	418 x 10³/µl	419 x 10³/µl	420 x 10³/µl	421 x 10³/µl	422 x 10³/µl	423 x 10³/µl	424 x 10³/µl
425 x 10³/µl	426 x 10³/µl	427 x 10³/µl	428 x 10³/µl	429 x 10³/µl	430 x 10³/µl	431 x 10³/µl	432 x 10³/µl
433 x 10³/µl	434 x 10³/µl	435 x 10³/µl	436 x 10³/µl	437 x 10³/µl	438 x 10³/µl	439 x 10³/µl	440 x 10³/µl
441 x 10³/µl	442 x 10³/µl	443 x 10³/µl	444 x 10³/µl	445 x 10³/µl	446 x 10³/µl	447 x 10³/µl	448 x 10³/µl
449 x 10³/µl	450 x 10³/µl	451 x 10³/µl	452 x 10³/µl	453 x 10³/µl	454 x 10³/µl	455 x 10³/µl	456 x 10³/µl
457 x 10³/µl	458 x 10³/µl	459 x 10³/µl	460 x 10³/µl	461 x 10³/µl	462 x 10³/µl	463 x 10³/µl	464 x 10³/µl
465 x 10³/µl	466 x 10³/µl	467 x 10³/µl	468 x 10³/µl	469 x 10³/µl	470 x 10³/µl	471 x 10³/µl	472 x 10³/µl
473 x 10³/µl	474 x 10³/µl	475 x 10³/µl	476 x 10³/µl	477 x 10³/µl	478 x 10³/µl	479 x 10³/µl	480 x 10³/µl
481 x 10³/µl	482 x 10³/µl	483 x 10³/µl	484 x 10³/µl	485 x 10³/µl	486 x 10³/µl	487 x 10³/µl	488 x 10³/µl
489 x 10³/µl	490 x 10³/µl	491 x 10³/µl	492 x 10³/µl	493 x 10³/µl	494 x 10³/µl	495 x 10³/µl	496 x 10³/µl
497 x 10³/µl	498 x 10³/µl	499 x 10³/µl	500 x 10³/µl
Moderate thrombocytosis
501 x 10³/µl	502 x 10³/µl	503 x 10³/µl	504 x 10³/µl	505 x 10³/µl	506 x 10³/µl	507 x 10³/µl	508 x 10³/µl
509 x 10³/µl	510 x 10³/µl	511 x 10³/µl	512 x 10³/µl	513 x 10³/µl	514 x 10³/µl	515 x 10³/µl	516 x 10³/µl
517 x 10³/µl	518 x 10³/µl	519 x 10³/µl	520 x 10³/µl	521 x 10³/µl	522 x 10³/µl	523 x 10³/µl	524 x 10³/µl
525 x 10³/µl	526 x 10³/µl	527 x 10³/µl	528 x 10³/µl	529 x 10³/µl	530 x 10³/µl	531 x 10³/µl	532 x 10³/µl
533 x 10³/µl	534 x 10³/µl	535 x 10³/µl	536 x 10³/µl	537 x 10³/µl	538 x 10³/µl	539 x 10³/µl	540 x 10³/µl
541 x 10³/µl	542 x 10³/µl	543 x 10³/µl	544 x 10³/µl	545 x 10³/µl	546 x 10³/µl	547 x 10³/µl	548 x 10³/µl
549 x 10³/µl	550 x 10³/µl	551 x 10³/µl	552 x 10³/µl	553 x 10³/µl	554 x 10³/µl	555 x 10³/µl	556 x 10³/µl
557 x 10³/µl	558 x 10³/µl	559 x 10³/µl	560 x 10³/µl	561 x 10³/µl	562 x 10³/µl	563 x 10³/µl	564 x 10³/µl
565 x 10³/µl	566 x 10³/µl	567 x 10³/µl	568 x 10³/µl	569 x 10³/µl	570 x 10³/µl	571 x 10³/µl	572 x 10³/µl
573 x 10³/µl	574 x 10³/µl	575 x 10³/µl	576 x 10³/µl	577 x 10³/µl	578 x 10³/µl	579 x 10³/µl	580 x 10³/µl
581 x 10³/µl	582 x 10³/µl	583 x 10³/µl	584 x 10³/µl	585 x 10³/µl	586 x 10³/µl	587 x 10³/µl	588 x 10³/µl
589 x 10³/µl	590 x 10³/µl	591 x 10³/µl	592 x 10³/µl	593 x 10³/µl	594 x 10³/µl	595 x 10³/µl	596 x 10³/µl
597 x 10³/µl	598 x 10³/µl	599 x 10³/µl	600 x 10³/µl	601 x 10³/µl	602 x 10³/µl	603 x 10³/µl	604 x 10³/µl
605 x 10³/µl	606 x 10³/µl	607 x 10³/µl	608 x 10³/µl	609 x 10³/µl	610 x 10³/µl	611 x 10³/µl	612 x 10³/µl
613 x 10³/µl	614 x 10³/µl	615 x 10³/µl	616 x 10³/µl	617 x 10³/µl	618 x 10³/µl	619 x 10³/µl	620 x 10³/µl
621 x 10³/µl	622 x 10³/µl	623 x 10³/µl	624 x 10³/µl	625 x 10³/µl	626 x 10³/µl	627 x 10³/µl	628 x 10³/µl
629 x 10³/µl	630 x 10³/µl	631 x 10³/µl	632 x 10³/µl	633 x 10³/µl	634 x 10³/µl	635 x 10³/µl	636 x 10³/µl
637 x 10³/µl	638 x 10³/µl	639 x 10³/µl	640 x 10³/µl	641 x 10³/µl	642 x 10³/µl	643 x 10³/µl	644 x 10³/µl
645 x 10³/µl	646 x 10³/µl	647 x 10³/µl	648 x 10³/µl	649 x 10³/µl	650 x 10³/µl	651 x 10³/µl	652 x 10³/µl
653 x 10³/µl	654 x 10³/µl	655 x 10³/µl	656 x 10³/µl	657 x 10³/µl	658 x 10³/µl	659 x 10³/µl	660 x 10³/µl
661 x 10³/µl	662 x 10³/µl	663 x 10³/µl	664 x 10³/µl	665 x 10³/µl	666 x 10³/µl	667 x 10³/µl	668 x 10³/µl
669 x 10³/µl	670 x 10³/µl	671 x 10³/µl	672 x 10³/µl	673 x 10³/µl	674 x 10³/µl	675 x 10³/µl	676 x 10³/µl
677 x 10³/µl	678 x 10³/µl	679 x 10³/µl	680 x 10³/µl	681 x 10³/µl	682 x 10³/µl	683 x 10³/µl	684 x 10³/µl
685 x 10³/µl	686 x 10³/µl	687 x 10³/µl	688 x 10³/µl	689 x 10³/µl	690 x 10³/µl	691 x 10³/µl	692 x 10³/µl
693 x 10³/µl	694 x 10³/µl	695 x 10³/µl	696 x 10³/µl	697 x 10³/µl	698 x 10³/µl	699 x 10³/µl	700 x 10³/µl
Marked thrombocytosis
701 x 10³/µl	702 x 10³/µl	703 x 10³/µl	704 x 10³/µl	705 x 10³/µl	706 x 10³/µl	707 x 10³/µl	708 x 10³/µl
709 x 10³/µl	710 x 10³/µl	711 x 10³/µl	712 x 10³/µl	713 x 10³/µl	714 x 10³/µl	715 x 10³/µl	716 x 10³/µl
717 x 10³/µl	718 x 10³/µl	719 x 10³/µl	720 x 10³/µl	721 x 10³/µl	722 x 10³/µl	723 x 10³/µl	724 x 10³/µl
725 x 10³/µl	726 x 10³/µl	727 x 10³/µl	728 x 10³/µl	729 x 10³/µl	730 x 10³/µl	731 x 10³/µl	732 x 10³/µl
733 x 10³/µl	734 x 10³/µl	735 x 10³/µl	736 x 10³/µl	737 x 10³/µl	738 x 10³/µl	739 x 10³/µl	740 x 10³/µl
741 x 10³/µl	742 x 10³/µl	743 x 10³/µl	744 x 10³/µl	745 x 10³/µl	746 x 10³/µl	747 x 10³/µl	748 x 10³/µl
749 x 10³/µl	750 x 10³/µl	751 x 10³/µl	752 x 10³/µl	753 x 10³/µl	754 x 10³/µl	755 x 10³/µl	756 x 10³/µl
757 x 10³/µl	758 x 10³/µl	759 x 10³/µl	760 x 10³/µl	761 x 10³/µl	762 x 10³/µl	763 x 10³/µl	764 x 10³/µl
765 x 10³/µl	766 x 10³/µl	767 x 10³/µl	768 x 10³/µl	769 x 10³/µl	770 x 10³/µl	771 x 10³/µl	772 x 10³/µl
773 x 10³/µl	774 x 10³/µl	775 x 10³/µl	776 x 10³/µl	777 x 10³/µl	778 x 10³/µl	779 x 10³/µl	780 x 10³/µl
781 x 10³/µl	782 x 10³/µl	783 x 10³/µl	784 x 10³/µl	785 x 10³/µl	786 x 10³/µl	787 x 10³/µl	788 x 10³/µl
789 x 10³/µl	790 x 10³/µl	791 x 10³/µl	792 x 10³/µl	793 x 10³/µl	794 x 10³/µl	795 x 10³/µl	796 x 10³/µl
797 x 10³/µl	798 x 10³/µl	799 x 10³/µl	800 x 10³/µl	801 x 10³/µl	802 x 10³/µl	803 x 10³/µl	804 x 10³/µl
805 x 10³/µl	806 x 10³/µl	807 x 10³/µl	808 x 10³/µl	809 x 10³/µl	810 x 10³/µl	811 x 10³/µl	812 x 10³/µl
813 x 10³/µl	814 x 10³/µl	815 x 10³/µl	816 x 10³/µl	817 x 10³/µl	818 x 10³/µl	819 x 10³/µl	820 x 10³/µl
821 x 10³/µl	822 x 10³/µl	823 x 10³/µl	824 x 10³/µl	825 x 10³/µl	826 x 10³/µl	827 x 10³/µl	828 x 10³/µl
829 x 10³/µl	830 x 10³/µl	831 x 10³/µl	832 x 10³/µl	833 x 10³/µl	834 x 10³/µl	835 x 10³/µl	836 x 10³/µl
837 x 10³/µl	838 x 10³/µl	839 x 10³/µl	840 x 10³/µl	841 x 10³/µl	842 x 10³/µl	843 x 10³/µl	844 x 10³/µl
845 x 10³/µl	846 x 10³/µl	847 x 10³/µl	848 x 10³/µl	849 x 10³/µl	850 x 10³/µl	851 x 10³/µl	852 x 10³/µl
853 x 10³/µl	854 x 10³/µl	855 x 10³/µl	856 x 10³/µl	857 x 10³/µl	858 x 10³/µl	859 x 10³/µl	860 x 10³/µl
861 x 10³/µl	862 x 10³/µl	863 x 10³/µl	864 x 10³/µl	865 x 10³/µl	866 x 10³/µl	867 x 10³/µl	868 x 10³/µl
869 x 10³/µl	870 x 10³/µl	871 x 10³/µl	872 x 10³/µl	873 x 10³/µl	874 x 10³/µl	875 x 10³/µl	876 x 10³/µl
877 x 10³/µl	878 x 10³/µl	879 x 10³/µl	880 x 10³/µl	881 x 10³/µl	882 x 10³/µl	883 x 10³/µl	884 x 10³/µl
885 x 10³/µl	886 x 10³/µl	887 x 10³/µl	888 x 10³/µl	889 x 10³/µl	890 x 10³/µl	891 x 10³/µl	892 x 10³/µl
893 x 10³/µl	894 x 10³/µl	895 x 10³/µl	896 x 10³/µl	897 x 10³/µl	898 x 10³/µl	899 x 10³/µl	900 x 10³/µl
Severe thrombocytosis
901 x 10³/µl	902 x 10³/µl	903 x 10³/µl	904 x 10³/µl	905 x 10³/µl	906 x 10³/µl	907 x 10³/µl	908 x 10³/µl
909 x 10³/µl	910 x 10³/µl	911 x 10³/µl	912 x 10³/µl	913 x 10³/µl	914 x 10³/µl	915 x 10³/µl	916 x 10³/µl
917 x 10³/µl	918 x 10³/µl	919 x 10³/µl	920 x 10³/µl	921 x 10³/µl	922 x 10³/µl	923 x 10³/µl	924 x 10³/µl
925 x 10³/µl	926 x 10³/µl	927 x 10³/µl	928 x 10³/µl	929 x 10³/µl	930 x 10³/µl	931 x 10³/µl	932 x 10³/µl
933 x 10³/µl	934 x 10³/µl	935 x 10³/µl	936 x 10³/µl	937 x 10³/µl	938 x 10³/µl	939 x 10³/µl	940 x 10³/µl

Medically reviewed by our Medical staff on 24/03/2021

Bibliography

Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations. 2nd Edition. 2015. Ramnik Sood. ISBN: 978-93-5152-333-8. Pag. 215.
Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Version 5.0.Published: November 27, 2017. U.S. Department of health and human Services. Available on: https://ctep.cancer.gov
Laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures with nursing diagnoses (8th ed), Jane Vincent Corbett, Angela Denise Banks, ISBN: 978-0-13-237332-6, Pag. 317.
A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Test. 9th edition. Frances Fischbach. Marshall B. Dunning III. 2014. Pag 148. ISBN-10: 1451190891.

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Blood test

High platelet count in the blood

Summary

What is a high count of platelets in the blood called?

What is the normal count of platelets in the blood?