No, Bleeding complications occur more frequently as the severity of thrombocytopenia increases, but only after the platelet count crosses a threshold of about 10 to 30 x 103. A normal platelet count is not required to support hemostasis. Clinically important spontaneous bleeding does not occur unless the platelet count is very low or other disorders are present. In a study conducted at the NATIONAL Cancer Institute to assess the risk for bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia, the investigators were not able to determine a threshold below which platelets should have prophylactic transfusion. However, following this study prophylactic transfusion BECAME common practice for patients with a platelet count below 20 x 103. SEVERAL subsequent randomized studies showed that using a platelet count < 10 x 103 as the trigger for prophylactic transfusion did not increase the risk for bleeding.

No, Bleeding complications occur more frequently as the severity of thrombocytopenia increases, but only after the platelet count crosses a threshold of about 10 to 30 x 103. A normal platelet count is not required to support hemostasis. Clinically important spontaneous bleeding does not occur unless the platelet count is very low or other disorders are present. In a study conducted at the National Cancer Institute to assess the risk for bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia, the investigators were not able to determine a threshold below which platelets should have prophylactic transfusion. However, following this study prophylactic transfusion became common practice for patients with a platelet count below 20 x 103. Several subsequent randomized studies showed that using a platelet count < 10 x 103 as the trigger for prophylactic transfusion did not increase the risk for bleeding.