Cancer
Cancer such as leukemia can be responsible for thrombocytopenia as it can damage bone marrow and disturb blood stem cells. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a form of cancer that affects B-lymphocytes. Advance condition of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can result in leukemia cells replacing bone marrow cells, which induce thrombocytopenia. In some rare cases, cancer results in the enlargement of spleen that traps too many platelets as spleen plays a role in storing a large number of extra platelets. Due to cancer, spleen gets enlarge and starts to trap more platelets resulting in a shortage of platelets inside the circulation. Prostate or breast cancer can also spread through the bone and can cause thrombocytopenia. When cancer spreads in the bone, it makes it hard for the bone marrow to make platelets.
