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William Aird: When Platelets Rise in Infection
William Aird/X
May 2, 2026, 15:16

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.”

Other posts featuring Sthanu Subramanian and William Aird on Hemostasis Today.

acute sepsis-induced thrombocytopenia bleeding disorders Blood bone marrow Empyema Health Hematology Hemostasis Hemostasis News Hemostasis Today IBD flare IL-6 Liver Mediastinitis Medicine Megakaryocyte Proliferation mRNA Reactive Thrombocytosis Sthanu Subramanian Thrombopoietin TPO William Aird
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