Therapy
The therapy of thrombocytopenia depends on its cause. If an infection or pregnancy is the cause of thrombocytopenia, it usually subsides on its own. If there is an underlying disease, it must be treated.
If there is a deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid, it must be compensated by additional intake. Drugs that lead to a pathological reduction in blood platelets should be redosed or discontinued and replaced by better tolerated preparations. Symptoms caused by autoimmune diseases can be improved by specialists with specific immunosuppressive drugs.
Cancer diseases are also assessed and treated by specialists. If the spleen is greatly enlarged, it may have to be removed. If the thrombocyte deficiency is in a life-threatening area with less than 10,000 platelets per μl blood, platelet concentrates are given, which, similar to blood transfusions, supply foreign platelets to the blood.
Here too, the cause of the platelet deficiency must then be found and treated. There is no general drug therapy for thrombocytopenia, as the causes are very different. For example, immunosuppressive drugs are used for autoimmune diseases.
These suppress the body’s own immune system and thus prevent the excessive breakdown of blood platelets. Examples from this group of drugs would be glucocorticoids or specific antibodies. It is also important to control the medication currently being taken.
Strong blood thinners such as Aspirin® or heparin can lead to thrombocytopenia and should be discontinued or re-dosed accordingly. The use of cortisone as an immunosuppressive agent plays a role above all in autoimmunologically induced thrombocytopenia.The Werlhof’s disease (ITP) described above should be mentioned in particular. The aim of cortisone administration is to increase the absolute platelet count by inhibiting the antibodies directed against the platelets.
If this does not occur promptly, high-dose therapy may lead to an improvement in the form of several cycles. Cortisone therapy (glucocorticoid therapy) can achieve temporary or permanent success. This is known as sustained remission.
In addition to the appropriate therapy for the underlying disease, the patient can increase his platelet count by changing his lifestyle. Thus, moderate exercise or sports are considered helpful. In addition, a healthy diet rich in fiber and vitamins is required.
Vitamins C, D, K and B12 are particularly helpful here. A lot of vitamin C is found in citrus fruits (lemons, kiwi, oranges) or in some vegetables (cabbage, tomatoes, broccoli). Vitamin B12 and folic acid can be supplemented naturally by dairy products, fish, eggs and spinach.
Of course there are also appropriate supplements for the vitamins, which can be purchased in the pharmacy in consultation with the family doctor. Likewise the healthy Omega 3 fatty acids, which occur in fish, vegetable oils and Nssen increased, are to have a positive influence on the Thrombozytenzahl. Finally also a positive effect of vegetable active substances from green tea, white Giseng, olive leaves and Piperin is discussed.
It is important to note that such a therapy should never be done alone and always in consultation with the family doctor! A slight drop in platelet count can be compensated for by making certain adjustments in food intake. Basically, a diet containing vitamin B and vitamin C has shown a productive effect on the increase in platelet numbers.
Foods that are particularly rich in these two vitamins are mainly tomatoes, citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables. Other important supports in platelet formation are vitamin D, folic acid and vitamin B12. Omega-3-containing foods such as linseed oil, rapeseed oil, nuts, seeds and sea fish are also said to play a supporting role. Basically, in addition to a balanced diet with a vitamin-rich intake, the intake of alcohol, caffeinated beverages and refined sugars should be avoided.
