Dr. Seth Rotz, MD

An individual with anemia will have the following symptoms: shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, cold hands or feet, paleness, and irritability. Anemia is diagnosed when blood tests show low counts for hemoglobin, which is the protein responsible for carrying oxygen to different tissues throughout the body.

Treatments for anemia are dependent on the kind of anemia an individual has. For example, iron supplementation may correct iron deficiency anemia. For anemia caused by chronic kidney failure, chemotherapy treatments, and HIV/AIDS, a group of medications called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents may be prescribed.

A properly working immune system identifies foreign substances in the body that might cause illness, such as bacteria and viruses. The immune system then creates antibodies which attack the foreign substances, neutralizing them and keeping the body safe. In people with autoimmune disorders, something goes wrong with this process. For reasons that are not fully understand, the immune system creates antibodies to attack the patient's own tissues.

Symptoms of an autoimmune disorder depend on which tissue is being attacked by the immune system, but common symptoms of autoimmune disease include fever, fatigue, and a general feeling of just not being well. Autoimmune disorders are more common in women than in men, and they may run in families. Autoimmune disorders can affect various parts of the body such as blood vessels, connective tissue, endocrine glands, joints, muscles, red blood cells, skin, and many others.

It is common to have more than one autoimmune disorder at a time. Most are chronic, or life-long illnesses, although they may come and go in flares. Treatment for autoimmune disorders depends on which part of the body is being attacked. For example:

• A type 1 diabetic whose pancreas has been damaged will need insulin.
• A person with Hashimoto's whose thyroid has been damaged will need replacement thyroid hormones.
• Someone with Sjogren's syndrome will need eye drops and mouth rinses to replace tears and saliva.

Many autoimmune disorders of all kinds are treated with immune-suppressing medications, such as corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone) to reduce the effect of the immune system.

If a doctor suspects a patient has thrombocytosis, a complete blood count (CBC) or platelet count test helps determine the concentration of platelets in a person's blood at a given time. Thrombocytosis can be diagnosed by hematologists using advanced tests on platelet samples. Flow cytometry tests detect abnormalities by evaluating the characteristics of a platelet sample using targeted lasers and lights.

Patients with high platelet counts are frequently prescribed a daily dose of over-the-counter medication aspirin to thin the blood. Platelet-lowering medications, such as hydroxyurea and Intron A, may reduce the likelihood of blood clot formation. Excess platelets may also be removed from the blood by a procedure called plateletpheresis or platelet reduction apheresis, where blood is drawn, circulated into a centrifuge that separates the blood components, and returned to the body with some platelets extracted. Plateletpheresis is a rare procedure reserved for patients who have severe clotting.

Patients can also modify their lifestyle to better manage their disorder and minimize complications. Patients with thrombocytosis are advised to drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and to avoid smoking. Many people with thrombocytosis live healthy and fulfilling lives with proper treatment and precautions.