platelets drop only when I get sick, anyone else?

Has anyone else noticed a correlation that your platelets drop when you get some sort of infectious illness?

I was diagnosed with ITP but my platelets have never been low enough to need treatment (lowest was 50K) and I feel pretty confident that it'll stay that way. But I definitely have a whacked-out autoimmunity gene - I had severe ulcerative colitis (also an autoimmune disease) as a teen and always have high autoimmunity markers (eg my ANA hangs out around 1:640).

I'm a generally healthy person, and at normal check-ups when I haven't been sick for a while, my count has always been 105K - 115K, and even got up to 127K once.

But when I get sick, I tend to get really sick, and with having had all of my large intestine and part of my small intestine removed due to UC, I often end up in the ER or hospitalized because I get severely dehydrated. And these times have been when I get my worst counts, 50K - 60K. Getting E. coli from a dirty Chinese restaurant produced my worst-ever count, and my two runner-up worst counts were during a bout of Influenza A and a double-whammy of Group C Strep + Mono. I've never had a count under 80K that WASN'T associated with an infectious illness. My low platelets were an incidental finding in my ER trips, which was how I came to be diagnosed. And going back through my records from when I was sick with UC (thank God for electronic medical records!) the hematology fellow found two incidents where I had low platelets as far back as 2002 that occurred when I had something infectious.

And then this past week, I had some sort of flu-like virus that didn't necessitate medical attention, but now I have bleeding gums and bruises that I don't know how I got.... two symptoms I haven't had in over a year.

Has anyone else had this correlation or noticed something like this when they're sick? Even for those of you whose ITP is normally severe and refractory, does it tend to get worse during infectious illness?

Do you have any other underlying disease, such as lupus, RA or Scleroderma... Mine usually fall when they are out of whack and that is usually when I get sick.... Not sure if Primary ITP'ers go through that also. Very good question.

Many ITP patients experience drops when they get sick. Not sure if it's the illness or the meds they take for the illness. It's typical for some. Others get a rise in counts.

My Rituxan response kicked in BIG time when I got pneumonia, coincidence or triggered?? Because I was hospitalized with low counts, i got a daily CBC and saw the climb every day for 3-4 days. I don't really care but thought it interesting.

I always have my counts checked when I have been ill due to ITP. Counts used to drop when ill, now they stay pretty stable.

Last Thursday, I wound up at the ER with severe belly pain. Had blood work done. Had to go back on Friday, so asked about platelet count; 183. My regular blood work on Sunday came back at 254. I am now on two antibiotics, is there a correlation between the fever I had and the meds that made my count drop? Just wondering.

ive had the cold once since i got itp and mine took a nose dive so it happens

YES! I have definitely seen correlation over the years, especially with more severe (flu-like) bugs. Many times such low counts were verified by tests, and others just noticed by me. I believe the theory is certain viruses ramp up the immune system, which is already overactive in taking out our platelets (classic ITP). I also notice higher platelets in the summer. Which may coincide with fewer bugs flying around and naturally increased vitamin D. Since I started taking vitamin D (4K IU a day), I have have been sick much less and higher counts (on average).

On an interesting side note, I have only had one flu shot in my life about 5 years ago. A month later I started my worst platelet decline ever (ending at 6K). So, a flu shot may have the same effect as sickness with me. My hemo and I agree - I'm better going without.

-Todd

I'm one of those who usually get a rise in counts when my body undergoes some sort of change--such as serious illness or surgery. My hema once jokingly asked me if I had any other parts I could sacrifice, since my platelets rose (temporarily) when I had my spleen out, my ovaries out!

I am like you Karen, every surgery brings a rise in platelets I haven't had any colds or flu so I don't know what this would do, don't know that I want to give up any more organs to get platelets up seems a bit much to ask to me. Good to see Doctors with a sense of humour though.

Your not alone, my platelets always seem to drop when i am sick. I try to limit my contact with sick people, but it is hard to do when you work in a big building with over 200 people in the building. I have face and hand wipes i keep in my bag and if i know someone has sat at my desk if i have been away, i always do a quick clean over of my desk etc.

not sure about to much of anything! My counts have dropped a bit, still safe though. I've been miserable sick. It's been bad. Having a hard time breating and everything. I hate it. But not sure if that's why my counts have dropped a bit, or the fact that I'm not taking the Promacta on a regular basis cuz I'm just plain tired of it all!

My immune system is so messed up that the only way I know I'm truly sick is when I notice signs of low platelets (bruising, petichea, etc.)I don't get fevers or high white cell counts. My hematologist just called me to inform me of a positive mono test she ran due to low-platelets and fatigue.

My Hemo swears that most people drop when they have a bug. I seem to go up with viral things. Antibiotics will cause a drop every time especially anything that ends in 'cillin'. I usually ask for the Z-pak.