There are several hereditary disorders characterized by some impairment of the platelet's action.
Examples include von Willebrand's disease and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.
Platelet function disorders may also occur as a symptom of acquired diseases or as a side effect of certain
drugs.
Vulnerable aspects of platelet function include errors in the production of the platelets themselves or errors
in the formation, storage, or release of their chemical signals.
These defects can prevent platelets from responding to injuries or from prompting the action of other
factors involved in clot formation. Thrombocytopenia is the most common of all platelet function disorders.