Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)

Diagnosis

Your doctor will attempt to rule out other potential causes of bleeding and a low platelet count, such as an underlying illness or medications that you or your child may be taking, prior to the immune thrombocytopenia diagnosis.

The amounts of platelets can be determined via blood testing. Adults may infrequently require a bone marrow examination to rule out other issues.

Treatment

Mild immune thrombocytopenia 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.

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.

Medications

Your doctor will ask you about any over-the-counter drugs or dietary supplements you currently use to see whether you should stop using any that could impair platelet function. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and ginkgo biloba are some examples.

ITP medications include the following:

• 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 might give you 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.
• Medications that induce platelet production. Eltrombopag and romiplostim, two medications, assist your bone marrow in producing more platelets. These medications can make you more likely to develop blood clots.
• Other medications. By lowering the immune response that is destroying your platelets, rituximab helps you to have a higher platelet count. However, if you later decide to have surgery to remove your spleen, this medication may also lessen the effectiveness of any necessary immunizations.

Surgery

Your doctor may recommend to surgically remove the spleen due to the severity of the condition. Though it doesn’t work for everyone, this fast gets rid of your body’s primary cause of platelet destruction and raises your platelet count. Your vulnerability to infection is increased by living without a spleen.

Emergency treatment

ITP can occasionally cause serious bleeding, but this is unusual. Typically, platelet concentrate infusions are part of emergency care. Through a tube in a vein, steroids and immune globulin may also be administered.