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Does single donor platelet transfusion help to increase platelet counts?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

My sister has been admitted to the ICU for the past two days due to a significant loss in platelet count after dengue. Her organs were affected, and she is on a ventilator. Single donor platelet transfusion, plasma, and blood with an antibiotic have been given for the past two days.

I want medical advice, and please suggest a treatment.

Thanks.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

I am sorry to hear about the illness. I have checked the attached reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). There is a positive finding in the report. There is high SGPT (alanine transaminase), high SGOT (aspartate transaminase), high bilirubin, fragmented RBC (red blood cells), high neutrophils, low platelets, low HB (hemoglobin), high total count, high urea, and creatinine. So she is having dengue-hemolytic anemia with infection and multiorgan dysfunction.

To combat the infection, antibiotics are given, and a single donor platelet is given to raise the platelet count. Treatment is given in the right direction as per the history. But her liver and kidneys are badly deteriorated, and therefore, the prognosis is poor. Her viral monitoring should be done regularly, and supportive treatment in the form of intravenous fluid and Ryle tube feeding should be given properly. Her condition is not good, and the treatment is proper. I hope she will recover from the illness soon.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

Yes, there is an increase in the platelet count. But still, there is bleeding. I thought that blood clots can occur when there are sufficient platelets.

Do antibiotics help in this condition?

We are worried about the continuous bleeding.

Thanks.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

I am worried about hemolytic anemia. She is having dengue hemorrhagic fever with hemolysis of blood. Constant bleeding occurs due to hemolysis of red blood cells. Hemolysis means the destruction of red blood cells. Antibiotics help fight infection, and they can be given. Sickle cells are also seen.

So she might have sickle cell anemia along with hemoglobinopathy, as her hemoglobin was low, along with hemolysis. Therefore, sickle cell anemia has contributed to additional hemolysis of red blood cells.

According to history, blood transfusion and fluid management should be done, and close monitoring of vitals should be done. A platelet count of 73,000 per microliter of blood is not normal, and the normal range should be above 150,000 per microliter of blood. In hemolytic anemia, due to DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation), the platelet count goes down even if it was normal previously.

Due to the hemolysis of RBC (red blood cells) and deterioration of the liver and kidneys, the prognosis is not good. Plasma, platelet, and blood transfusions are the main forms of management as of now.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I am once again looking for your input to evaluate the patient's health condition. Her platelet count has increased from 73000 per microliter of blood to 130,000 per microliter of blood, and her hemoglobin is 8.8 g/dL. Her blood pressure and urine culture are normal. Her ventilator dependency has reduced to 94 percent from 100 percent.

There is an improvement in her liver function, and the bleeding is sporadic.

With this observed improvement, can we assume that the body has started responding to its own blood contents, or is it due to continuous blood transfusion?

Please suggest.

Thanks.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

If there is an improvement in the liver function and urine output, then the condition is improving and the body is trying to recover. Ventilator dependency has improved, and so her body is improving. But still, she should recover more. Her hemoglobin and platelets can be improved due to a transfusion.

I hope that her liver and kidney parameters will improve further so she can recover soon.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.

Medically reviewed byDr. K. Shobana

Published At January 14, 2021
Reviewed AtMay 19, 2026

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