Low Platelets Due to Radiation

The current research-supported theory, concerning the immune system’s reaction to radiation, is that any effect is proportional to the intensity of radiation exposure in any particular case. Thus far, researchers based most of their most findings on their greater ability to observe effects in high-dose radiation cases. Researchers point to doses of more than 50 rad (rad is the measure of the amount of energy absorbed by the body) as the cause of massive blood cell death, inflammation, and infection in the lymphocyte blood cell population. The lymphocytes are the cells that originate from the bone marrow and constitute 20 to 30% of the total blood cell count. This type of blood cell decline usually occurs 12 to 48 hours after exposure. Decline is shown in other blood cell types over the next several weeks and during this period a radiation-exposed patient may experience severe fevers, infections and bleeding.

The lesser known effects of low-dose radiation, doses less than 50 rad, have been shown to cause mutations and chromosome aberrations in the lymphocyte cells. As yet, it is unknown how these aberrations relate to the immune system’s healthy functionality. However, low doses can cause leukemia. Increased risk of leukemia has been found in children exposed to x-rays while still in the womb.