What is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura(ITP) is a bleeding disorder which the blood does not clot when it should. The bleeding is due to the low number of platelets. Platelets are the blood cells that help the blood to clot.

There are two types of ITP: Acute ITP and Chronic ITP

Acute ITP mainly occurs in children both girls and boys and is the most common type it occurs following an infection cause dby virus and goes away on its own after a couple of weeks or months and does not return. In this case treatment may not be required.

Chronic ITP generally affects adults only, however it can affect teenagers and sometimes younger children. This ITP lasts a lot longerup to six months and sometimes requires treatment depending upon severity of the bleeding symptoms. It is more common in women than men.

Treatment if required can include intravenous immunoglobin, intravenous anti-Rh (D) and splenectomy. No evidence indicates however that any of these treatments and/or others will reduce bleeding complicaions or mortality from ITP. New treatments and oral medications are in developmental stages.

For further information

Blood Platelet Levels Significantly Increased with Eltrombopag

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Fact sheet ITP