Platelets:
- Most are 1/5 to 1/3 the size of a normal RBC .
- They are typically round with a blue-bray cytoplasm.
- Cytoplasm with purple/blue granules.
Increased in:
- Iron deficiency Anemia
- Acute or chronic inflammation
- Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (e.g. Essential Thrombocythemia, etc.)
- Drug reaction
- Exercise
Decreased in:
- Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemias (e.g. DIC, TTP, and HUS)
- Malignancy with Marrow infiltration
- Drug induced
- Infection (e.g. sepsis leading to DIC)
- Autoimmune (e.g. ITP)
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Splenic sequestration
- Hereditary
Platelets on a blood smear
