In the case of platelet abnormalities, bleeding occurs in the first few hours following injury when platelets would normally be responsible for plugging the wound site. Platelet abnormalities may be inherited as an inability to produce enough platelets or as a production of abnormally-functioning platelets. B. Problems with Platelet Quantity Thrombocytopenia is a reduction in platelet levels in the blood. This may be caused by decreased platelet production or increased platelet destruction. Thrombocytopenia may develop due to disease or other factors, or it may be inherited.
Hereditary thrombocytopenia is rare.
Most of these hereditary disorders are mild and have few symptoms. Hereditary thrombocytopenia is diagnosed based on family and patient history, physical assessment for symptoms, and laboratory testing. Most platelet quality disorders result in an inherited inability of the platelets to stick to each other and to the wound site. Symptoms of platelet quality defects are similar to those of thrombocytopenia , including hemorrhage, petechiae, bruising, and blood in the stool. Two kinds of inherited platelet quality disorders are Bernard-Soulier syndrome and thrombasthenia.