Etiology and Therapeutic Advances in Platelet Disorders

Platelets are blood cells that play a crucial role in maintaining hemostasis. Several factors, such as age, genetics, drugs, toxins, nutritional deficiencies, acquired medical conditions, and lifestyle, affect platelet count and function. These factors lead to various platelet disorders, namely thrombocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and platelet dysfunction disorders. There are several therapeutic strategies currently in practice for the treatment of platelet disorders. Low-dose aspirin, cytoreductive drugs for thrombocytosis, and corticosteroids, desmopressin, and antifibrinolytic drugs are a few well-established therapeutic agents. Nevertheless, conventional strategies such as plateletpheresis and platelet transfusions are of importance as they serve as first-line approaches. Recent advances, which include targeted gene therapies, serve as adjunctive strategies for disease management. Multiple therapeutic strategies, including genome editing, cell-based platelet products, and novel biologic agents, are currently being tested in phase clinical trials for platelet disorders. Current therapeutics, ranging from conventional platelet transfusions and antiplatelet drugs to novel biologics, have transformed the landscape of treatment strategies. This chapter enlists the etiology of various platelet disorders, current treatment strategies, and emerging therapeutic approaches. It provides a platform to understand the causative factors, disease management strategies, and novel therapeutics to provide safer and more effective treatment alternatives.