Platelet Function Disorder is a bleeding disorder in which the platelets in the blood do not work correctly.  Platelets are cells in the blood that help stop bleeding after injury occurs.  When bleeding starts (inside or outside of the body) platelets turn on and go to the site of the broken blood vessels where they clump together and stick to the blood vessel wall to form the beginning of a blood clot.  Once platelets have turned on, they release chemicals that trigger other platelets to come to stick to the blood clot.   In Platelet Function Disorder, platelets do not release the chemicals to trigger other clotting factors and/or do not get sticky and clump together.  This can cause prolonged bleeding or bleeding that stops and then starts back up again.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

  • Increased bruising and/or bruises that take a long time to heal
  • Prolonged bleeding from injuries
  • Nosebleeds
  • Bleeding gums
  • Excessive/prolonged bleeding from a circumcision
  • Excessive/prolonged bleeding from surgeries
  • Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
  • Bleeding into the joints

 

Diagnosing Platelet Function Disorder
When testing for Platelet Function Disorder, a series of blood testing will need to be done and a detailed bleeding history will be taken.  People who should be tested for Platelet Function Disorder include:

  • Someone with a parent or sibling diagnosed with a Platelet Function Disorder
  • Someone with a family member or members diagnosed with Platelet Function Disorder who are experiencing bleeding symptoms
  • Someone who has had an abnormal platelet aggregation test with signs and symptoms of bleeding

TREATMENTS

Platelets
The treatment for Platelet Function Disorder is a platelet infusion.  A platelet infusion is a transfusion of platelets, donated from another person, which is given in a vein.  These infusions will provide platelets that work correctly and will help the body to stop bleeding. Mostly, people diagnosed with Platelet Function Disorder only need treatment when injury occurs, before more invasive dental work and before surgeries.

 

Amicar/Lysteda (Aminocaproic Acid/Tranexamic Acid)
Amicar and Lysteda are oral medications that work very well for bleeding of mucous membranes such as nose and mouth bleeding.  Lysteda is also used for heavy menstrual bleeding.  When bleeding occurs, the body tries to heal the area by making a clot that will plug the hole to stop bleeding. This clot will stay there for about four days.  After these four days, chemicals in the body are triggered to breakdown the clot. This is called fibrinolysis. Amicar and Lysteda are called anti-fibrinolytic medications because it stops fibrinolysis. A person with a bleeding disorder needs more time for healing because they cannot make a strong clot to heal the area of bleeding. Amicar and Lysteda stops the body from breaking the clot down.  This gives the blood vessels more time to completely heal and prevents prolonged bleeding and rebleeding.  

COMPLICATIONS

Bleeding can occur anywhere in the body.  Usually bleeding is caused by injury, surgery or dental procedures.

Complications from Platelet Function Disorder can include:

  • Prolonged bleeding leading to anemia
  • Bleeding in joints leading to arthritis or damage to joints
  • Damage to the brain (Head injury resulting to bleeding inside the skull)
  • Difficulty breathing (Due to bleeding in the neck or lungs after injury)
  • Paralysis (Due to bleeding in the spinal column after injury)