About idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (itp)

What is idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (itp)?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) facts

  • Treatment for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is based on how much and how often you're bleeding and your platelet count. In some cases, treatment may not be needed.
  • Medicines often are used as the first course of treatment. Treatments used for children and adults are similar.
  • Adults with ITP who have very low platelet counts or problems with bleeding often are treated. Adults who have milder cases of ITP may not need any treatment, other than watching their symptoms and platelet counts.
  • The acute (short-term) type of ITP that occurs in children often goes away within a few weeks or months. Children who have bleeding symptoms, other than merely bruising (purpura), usually are treated.
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding condition in which the blood doesn't clot as it should. This is due to a low number of blood cell fragments called platelets.
  • Platelets stick together (clot) to seal small cuts or breaks on blood vessel walls and stop bleeding.
  • There are two types of ITP. Acute ITP is a short-term illness that mainly affects children and often occurs after a viral infection. Most children get well quickly without any treatment. Adults who have ITP most often have chronic (long-lasting) ITP. Symptoms can vary a great deal, and some adults who have mild ITP don't need treatment.
  • In most cases, an autoimmune response is believed to cause ITP. Normally your immune system helps your body fight off infections and diseases. But if you have ITP, your immune system attacks and destroys its own platelets. The reason why this happens isn't known.
  • ITP can't be passed from one person to another.
  • ITP can affect children and adults of all ages. Women are 2 to 3 times more likely than men to get chronic ITP.
  • People who have ITP may have signs of bleeding, such as bruises (purpura) that appear for no reason or tiny red dots (petechiae) that are visible on the skin.
  • Bleeding in ITP also occurs in the form of nosebleeds, bleeding gums, menstrual bleeding that's heavier than usual, or other bleeding that's hard to stop. Bleeding in the brain as a result of ITP is very rare, but it can be life threatening when it occurs.
  • ITP is diagnosed based on your medical history, a physical exam, and results from blood tests.
  • Treatment for ITP is based on how much and how often you're bleeding and your platelet count. Medicines often are used as the first course of treatment. Treatments used for children and adults are similar.
  • The spleen is sometimes removed if treatment with medicine fails to keep the platelet level high enough to prevent bleeding.
  • You can't prevent ITP, but you can prevent its complications. Talk to your doctor about what medicines are safe for you, protect yourself from injuries that can cause bruising or bleeding, and seek treatment if any signs of infection develop.
  • For most children and adults, ITP isn't a serious or life-threatening condition. Even people who have severe forms of chronic ITP can live for decades.

What is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding condition in which the blood doesn't clot as it should. This is due to a low number of blood cell fragments called platelets (PLATE-lets).

Platelets also are called thrombocytes (THROM-bo-sites). They're made in your bone marrow along with other kinds of blood cells. Platelets stick together (clot) to seal small cuts or breaks on blood vessel walls and stop bleeding.

You can understand the name of this disease by an explanation of its three parts. "Idiopathic" (id-ee-o-PATH-ick) means that the cause of the condition isn't known. "Thrombocytopenic" (throm-bo-cy-toe-PEE-nick) means there's a lower than normal number of platelets in the blood. "Purpura" (PURR-purr-ah) refers to purple bruises caused by bleeding under the skin.

Overview of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

People who have ITP often have purple bruises that appear on the skin or on the mucous membranes (for example, in the mouth). The bruises mean that bleeding has occurred in small blood vessels under the skin.

A person who has ITP also may have bleeding that results in tiny red or purple dots on the skin. These pinpoint-sized dots are called petechiae (peh-TEE-kee-ay). Petechiae may look like a rash.

People who have ITP also may have nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums when they have dental work done, or other bleeding that's hard to stop. Women who have ITP may have menstrual bleeding that's heavier than usual.

More extensive bleeding can cause hematomas (he-mah-TO-mas). A hematoma is a collection of clotted or partially clotted blood under the skin. It looks or feels like a lump.

Bleeding in the brain as a result of ITP is very rare, but can be life threatening if it occurs.

In most cases, an autoimmune response is believed to cause ITP. Normally your immune system helps your body fight off infections and diseases. But if you have ITP, your immune system attacks and destroys its own platelets. The reason why this happens isn't known.

ITP can't be passed from one person to another.

What Are The Types of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)?

There are two types of ITP: acute (temporary or short-term) and chronic (long-lasting).

Acute ITP generally lasts less than 6 months. It mainly occurs in children, both boys and girls, and is the most common type of ITP. Acute ITP often occurs after an infection caused by a virus.

Chronic ITP is long-lasting (6 months or longer) and mostly affects adults. However, some teenagers and children can get this type of ITP. Chronic ITP affects women 2 to 3 times more often than men.

What are the symptoms for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (itp)?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) may have no signs and symptoms. When they do occur, they may include:

  • Easy or excessive Bruising (purpura)
  • Superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as a Rash of pinpoint-sized Reddish-purple spots (petechiae), usually on the lower legs
  • Bleeding from the gums or nose
  • Blood in urine or stools
  • Unusually heavy menstrual flow

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you or your child develops warning signs that worry you.

Bleeding that won't stop is a medical emergency. Seek immediate help if you or your child experiences bleeding that can't be controlled by the usual first-aid techniques, such as applying pressure to the area.

What are the causes for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (itp)?

In some people thrombocytopenia is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking and destroying platelets. If the cause of this immune reaction is unknown, the condition is called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Idiopathic means "of unknown cause."

In most children with ITP, the disorder follows a viral illness, such as the mumps or the flu. It may be that the infection triggers the immune system malfunction.

Increased breakdown of platelets

In people with ITP, antibodies produced by the immune system attach themselves to the platelets, marking the platelets for destruction. The spleen, which helps your body fight infection, recognizes the antibodies and removes the platelets from your system. The result of this case of mistaken identity is a lower number of circulating platelets than is normal.

A normal platelet count is generally between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter of circulating blood. People with ITP often have platelet counts below 20,000. Because platelets help the blood clot, as their number decreases, your risk of bleeding increases. The greatest risk is when your platelet count falls very low — below 10,000 platelets per microliter. At this point, internal bleeding may occur even without any injury.

What are the treatments for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (itp)?

Treatment for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is based on how much and how often you're bleeding and your platelet count. In some cases, treatment may not be needed.

Medicines often are used as the first course of treatment. Treatments used for children and adults are similar.

Adults who have milder cases of ITP may not need any treatment, other than watching their symptoms and platelet counts. However, adults with ITP who have very low platelet counts or problems with bleeding are treated.

The acute (short-term) type of ITP that occurs in children often goes away within a few weeks or months and requires no treatment. Children who have milder cases of ITP may not need treatment other than monitoring and followup to make sure platelet counts return to normal. Children who have bleeding symptoms, other than merely bruising (purpura), are treated.

What are the risk factors for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (itp)?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura can occur in anyone at almost any age, but these factors increase the risk:

  • Your sex. Women are two to three times more likely to develop ITP than men are.
  • Recent viral infection. Many children with ITP develop the disorder after a viral illness, such as mumps, measles or a respiratory infection.

Is there a cure/medications for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (itp)?

Mild immune thrombocytopenia/idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients might only require routine monitoring and platelet tests. Children typically get better on their own. Most individuals with ITP will require therapy at some point, as the condition frequently gets worse or is chronic (chronic).

  • Numerous methods of treatment are possible, such as taking drugs to increase your platelet count or having your spleen removed (splenectomy).
  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of your treatment options with your doctor.
  • Some individuals believe that the negative side effects of treatment are worse than the impacts of sickness.


Mediations may include:

  • Steroids: You'll probably begin taking an oral corticosteroid like prednisone at the advice of your doctor. In accordance with your doctor's instructions, you can gradually stop taking the medication after your platelet count has returned to a normal range. Because these drugs can raise your risk of infections, high blood sugar, and osteoporosis, prolonged use of them is not advised.
  • Immune globulin: Your doctor may administer an injection of immune globulin if corticosteroids are ineffective. If you have serious bleeding or need to fast boost your blood count before surgery, this medication may also be utilized. Usually, the effect subsides after a few weeks.
  • Drugs that increase platelet production: Eltrombopag (Promacta) and romiplostim (Nplate) are two drugs that assist your bone marrow in producing more platelets. These medications can make you more likely to develop blood clots.


Symptoms
Bruising,Blood in the urine
Conditions
Heavy menstrual flow,Bleeding from gums or nose
Drugs
Rituxan,Truxima,Promacta

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