Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) Practice Exam

Which of the following factors can lead to thrombocytosis?

1. Bleeding

2. Viral infection

3. Low stress levels

4. Decreased physical activity

The correct answer is: Bleeding

Thrombocytosis, or an elevated platelet count, can occur due to a range of physiological and pathological conditions. Bleeding is one of the common triggers for thrombocytosis because when the body experiences a loss of blood, it may respond by increasing platelet production in an effort to promote clotting and minimize further bleeding. This compensatory mechanism is a part of the body’s natural response to restore hemostasis. The other options do not typically lead to thrombocytosis. Viral infections might cause reactive thrombocytosis in some cases, but they more commonly lead to thrombocytopenia or lower platelet counts as part of the body’s immune response. Low-stress levels and decreased physical activity do not have a direct link to an increase in platelet production; in fact, chronic stress and certain forms of physical stress can sometimes cause changes to platelet counts, but generally through mechanisms that may not directly result in elevated levels. Thus, bleeding stands out as a primary and well-recognized factor that can lead to an increase in platelet count, making it the most accurate choice in this context.