low platelets

[Charles40]

my brother was just told he had very low platelet levels 14,000 they thought he had PHN but the test came back negative, then he was told he had Aplastic anemia but then was told only dangerously low platelet levels and the red blood count and white blood count are low but not dangerous. They do not know what is the cause. This all started May 25th. He had to have one blood transfusion and must go back tomorrow to see if I needs another one.
what does he have?
Please help,
Charles
he is being treated at the City of Hope![

[Neil Cuadra]

Charles,

It sounds like the doctors are making educated guesses but that only further tests (and clues from your brother's medical history) will get them to a definitive diagnosis. There are many possible causes of low platelets (called thrombocytopenia by hematologists), from vitamin B12 deficiency to infections to bone marrow failure to side effects of drugs.

It's too soon for you to jump to conclusions so I hope it won't take the doctors much longer to narrow it down. Not knowing what's wrong can be worse than knowing what's wrong, because having no diagnosis leaves you imagining the worst while you wait.

Please let us know what they learn.

[rose mcmillin]

So sorry for what is happening to your brother. Has he had his bone marrow tested? That would probably be the next step towards a diagnosis. Take care
and feel free to ask any other questions that you have. This is a great web site for info and support. Rose