idiopathic-thrombocytopenic : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

What is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a disorder that can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding. The bleeding results from unusually low levels of platelets — the cells that help blood clot. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, which is also called immune thrombocytopenia, affects children and adults. Children often develop ITP after a viral infection and usually recover fully without treatment. In adults, the disorder is often long term.

What causes Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

ITP occurs when certain immune system cells produce antibodies against platelets. Platelets help your blood clot by clumping together to plug small holes in damaged blood vessels. The antibodies attach to the platelets. The body destroys the platelets that carry the antibodies. In children, the disease sometimes follows a viral infection. In adults, it is more often a long-term (chronic) disease and can occur after a viral infection, with use of certain drugs, during pregnancy, or as part of an immune disorder. ITP affects women more often than men. It is more common in children than adults. In children, the disease affects boys and girls equally.

What are the symptoms of Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura?

The symptoms of ITP include:

• Easy or excessive bruising
• Petechiae (tiny reddish purple dots on the skin that are caused by bleeding under the surface of the skin) on the body, especially on the lower legs
• Cuts or minor wounds that take a very long time to clot or stop bleeding
• Blood in the urine or stools
• Unusually heavy menstrual flow in women
• Unexplained bleeding from the nose or gums

Many adults have only mild thrombocytopenia. In fact, quite a few people have no bleeding symptoms. In most adults, ITP lasts much longer than it does in children. At the time of diagnosis, most adults have noticed increased bleeding and easy bruising for several weeks or even months. In women, increased menstrual blood flow is a common sign.

How is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura diagnosed?

Blood tests will be done to check your platelet count. A bone marrow aspiration or biopsy may also be done.

How is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura treated?

In children, the disease usually goes away without treatment. Some children may need treatment. Adults are usually started on a steroid medicine called prednisone. In some cases, surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy) is recommended. This increases the platelet count in about half of people. However, other drug treatments are usually recommended instead.

If the disease does not get better with prednisone, other treatments may include:

• Medicine called danazol (Danocrine) taken by mouth
• Infusions of high-dose gamma globulin (an immune factor)
• Drugs that suppress the immune system
• Anti-RhD therapy for people with certain blood types
• Drugs that stimulate the bone marrow to make more platelets

People with ITP should not take aspirin, ibuprofen, or warfarin, because these drugs interfere with platelet function or blood clotting, and bleeding may occur.