William Aird: When Platelets Rise in Infection
William Aird, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, shared a post on X:
“When platelets rise in infection
We’re taught:
infection leads to thrombocytopenia.
But some infections raise
- platelets.
- Abscess.
- Empyema.
- Mediastinitis.
- IBD flare.
Not time. Not severity.
A different signal:
IL-6 leads to TPO, which leads to thrombocytosis.”
Sthanu Subramanian, Pediatrician, shared William Aird’s post on X:
“This is a classic example of Reactive (Secondary) Thrombocytosis, where the body overproduces platelets in response to severe, localized inflammation or chronic infection rather than destroying them, as seen in acute sepsis-induced thrombocytopenia.
Infection and Inflammation:
Localized infections (abscesses) or chronic inflammation (IBD flare) release high levels of IL-6.
Liver Stimulation:
IL-6 travels to the liver, where it increases the transcription of mRNA and production of Thrombopoietin (TPO).
Bone Marrow Response:
Elevated TPO plasma levels stimulate megakaryocyte proliferation and maturation in the bone marrow, causing a massive increase in platelet production.”
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