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 | ITP stands for Immune (also referred to as idiopathic) Thrombocytopenic (a decreased platelet number) Purpura (purplish areas of skin and mucous membranes). |
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| You may also hear the term "Idiopathic" Thrombocytopenic Purpura which means the cause of the low platelets is unknown. |
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| ITP occurs when a person makes antiplatelet antibodies which attach to his/her own platelets. The antibodies cause the immune system to destroy the platelets. This results in a decrease in the platelet count. |
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| Platelets are the blood cells that help form clots to stop bleeding. |
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| A blood test is done to count the number of platelets you /your child has. |
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| A normal platelet count is higher than 150,000/mm3. |
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| Hematologists generally agree that platelet counts: |
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 | higher than 100,000/mm3 are always safe, |
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| higher than 30,000/mm3 are nearly always safe, and |
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| lower than 10,000/mm3 may be associated with an increased risk of bleeding. |
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| The cause of ITP is not known. |
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| ITP has been associated with: |
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| recent viral infection, |
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| some medications, |
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| immune disorders (including Lupus), and |
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| infections. |
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| There is nothing you did to cause ITP. |
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| ITP is not contagious. |
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| There is no cure for ITP. Fortunately, most childhood cases resolve on their own. |
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| The main reason to treat ITP is to keep you/your child's platelet count in a safe range so that the risk of bleeding is minimized. |
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| Platelet counts lower than 10,000 may increase the risk of bleeding. |
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| Therapy temporarily raises the platelet count to minimize the bleeding risk. |
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| The treatment for ITP may include: |
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| observation (monitoring platelet counts), |
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| stopping medications that are thought to cause ITP, and |
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| treating infections. |
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| Other treatments such as steroids, Winrho, IVIG, and/or 6-mercaptopurine infusions may be considered. These medications help to trick the body's response so that it does not destroy the platelets. |
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| In some instances a splenectomy (removal of the spleen) may be recommended. |
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| Platelet counts may go up and down for many months. |
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| Childhood ITP usually resolves itself within 6 months. |
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| Some patients do not resolve within this period of time and continue with Chronic ITP. |
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| Some patients may also require several courses of treatment before the ITP resolves at a later time. |
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