what is thrombocytosis

Thrombocytosis, also known as thrombocythemia, is a condition characterized by an abnormally high platelet count in the blood. Platelets are blood cell fragments that play a crucial role in blood clotting. The normal platelet count ranges from 150×10⁹ to 450×10⁹ platelets per liter of blood. Thrombocytosis can be categorized as either primary or secondary. When the cause is known, such as another disorder or disease, the term thrombocytosis is preferred. Secondary thrombocytosis, also known as reactive thrombocytosis, is the most common type and is caused by underlying medical problems such as infections, cancer, inflammatory disorders, iron deficiency, or surgery. On the other hand, primary thrombocythemia, also known as essential thrombocythemia, is a rare blood and bone marrow disease where the cause is unclear, but it often appears to be connected to changes in certain genes. This condition poses a much higher risk of clotting or bleeding complications than reactive thrombocytosis.