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Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

What is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura is a condition in which the blood does not clot as quickly as it should due to a low number of platelets.

 

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura is a condition in which the blood does not clot as quickly as it should due to a low number of platelets.
Acknowledgement of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura has not been added yet.
6.6http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/idiopathic-thrombocytopenic-purpura/
Synonyms for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura has not been added yet.
ITP is a type of autoimmune disorder, which means that the body’s natural immune defenses inappropriately act against the body’s own healthy tissues (https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/5194/idiopathic-thrombocytopenic-purpura/resources/1). In the case of this disease, an abnormal immune response is launched against blood cells known as platelets. The body’s lymph tissues and spleen are stimulated to produce anti-platelet antibodies, which attach to the platelets for a reason that is still unknown currently. Since this “antibody-platelet complex” is identified as foreign, the immune system is mislead and proceeds to attack these cells. As a result, the number of platelets in the blood decreases, and the symptoms of ITP may appear (http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/idiopathic-thrombocytopenic-purpura/). Symptoms can also occur following an acute viral infection or upper respiratory illness, since antibodies produced to fight foreign viral substances (antigens) may cross-react with the platelets.
There are many cases of ITP where the patient is asymptomatic, meaning that there are no visible signs of the disease until the platelet population is extremely low (http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/idiopathic-thrombocytopenic-purpura/). Some of the most common disorder symptoms include skin that bruises very easily, rashes consisting of small red dots (petechiae) that represent small hemorrhages, bleeding from any area of the body made obvious by blood in urine or feces, bleeding from the gums, consistent and long-lasting nose bleeds, and abnormal menstruation. In some patients, this frequent loss of blood through bleeding episodes can result in weakness or fatigue, caused by reduced number of oxygen-transporting red blood cells. Specifically for female patients, some will experience heavy menstrual bleeding (https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/5194/idiopathic-thrombocytopenic-purpura/resources/9). In very cases of the disease, some have had intracranial hemorrhages, which is when bleeding occurs within the skull.
When completing a diagnosis for ITP, it is very important to confirm that the low population of platelets (thrombocytopenia) is not a result of other conditions such as acute leukemia and aplastic anemia (http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/idiopathic-thrombocytopenic-purpura/). For example, normal appearing red blood cells or white blood cells will rule out leukemia and/or aplastic anemia from possible causes of the symptoms. Although there is no “gold standard” diagnostic test for ITP, doctors will use a combination of history checks, physical examinations, complete blood counts and the peripheral blood smear examination (http://www.orpha.net/). After the most common test for this disease, which is a simple blood test to determine the number of platelets, any observations of unusual cells will require a biopsy of the bone marrow.
Diagnostic tests of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura has not been added yet
In many cases of ITP (especially the acute form), no therapy is required, and the disorder may resolve itself (spontaneous resolution) (http://www.orpha.net/). If treatment is necessary, however, corticosteroids are the standard first-line treatment (http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/idiopathic-thrombocytopenic-purpura/). These are drugs that mimic the effects of hormones your body produces naturally in your adrenal glands (Prednisone and other corticosteroids - Mayo Clinic). If pharmaceutical treatment does not reduce symptoms sufficiently, another treatment option is intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). This procedure involves the injection of a protein into the bloodstream periodically. This can be expensive and does not lead to a cure, but is an effective emergency treatment in cases of severe bleeding (http://patient.info/health/immune-thrombocytopenia-leaflet).
80% of Children have "acute" cases which resolve within 6-12 months. 20% of Adults seem to have "acute" cases, 80% are considered chronic, but many of those do not require treatment.
Name Description
Annabelle Find a hematologist who is very familiar with ITP...not all hematologists/oncologists are. If you are seeing a doctor who says steroids and splenectomy are the only two treatments available, you know you're seeing someone who's about 10-15 years behind the curve.
References of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura has not been added yet.
Approved medicine in Japan to treat thrombocytopenia Created by Felicity1980
Last updated 8 Mar 2020, 08:10 AM

Posted by Felicity1980
8 Mar 2020, 08:10 AM

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to share the following information with all of you which I hope will be beneficial:

Cepharanthine, a medicine from Japan has been approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health to treat thrombocytopenia.

According to a recent pharmacological report:

“Cepharanthine is a fascinating pharmacological agent with a complex set of physiological actions and an array of clinical benefits. To date, preclinical and clinical studies have provided compelling evidence for the potential uses of Cepharanthine in… idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.”

Clinical trials have shown that many ITP patients who were on a daily regimen of Cepharanthine had a significant elevation in platelet counts without any reported side effects.

Incredibly, a number of these patients were still experiencing elevated platelet counts up to 5 months after stopping Cepharanthine treatment.

Research has shown no difference in the results between patients who were treated with Cepharanthine alone and those who were treated with Cepharanthine in combination with Prednisolone (a man-made corticosteroid). As a result of Cepharanthine, many patients were able to either reduce or completely wean themselves off steroids.

In two studies involving pediatric ITP, children who were being administered Cepharanthine had their platelet levels fully restored to normal, even quicker than the standard costly platelet associated IgG treatment.

Treatments for Aquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia ITP Created by kcamiel
Last updated 11 Feb 2009, 01:46 PM

Posted by julesquick
11 Feb 2009, 01:46 PM

Hi - I was treated with IVIG, Ratuxin, Prednisone and CellCept. It wasn't until they started the CellCept that any change occurred....keep the faith...there is also High Dose Cytoxan if everyting else fails. I know you posted a while ago, and I hope everything as worked out. Best of Luck to you.

Posted by kcamiel
23 Sep 2008, 03:55 PM

My son, 20, has tried started treatment with no positive results. Anyone have info on results and what comes next? Predinsone - no change WinRho - no change He starts IV immunoglobulin this week. Any info on that?

Community External News Link
Title Date Link
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura in a Patient with Covid-19 04/30/2020
Community Resources
Title Description Date Link
UK ITP Support Association

The ITP Support Association is a UK registered charity which aims to promote and improve the general welfare of patients, and the families of patients, with Immune (Idiopathic) Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

03/20/2017
Platelet Disorder Support Association

The Platelet Disorder Support Association is a non-profit corporation founded in August, 1998 to provide information, support, and encourage research about ITP and other platelet disorders.

03/20/2017

Clinical Trials


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CoRDS, or the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford, is based at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It provides researchers with a centralized, international patient registry for all rare diseases. This program allows patients and researchers to connect as easily as possible to help advance treatments and cures for rare diseases. The CoRDS team works with patient advocacy groups, individuals and researchers to help in the advancement of research in over 7,000 rare diseases. The registry is free for patients to enroll and researchers to access.

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After these steps, the enrollment process is complete. All other questions are voluntary. However, these questions are important to patients and their families to create awareness as well as to researchers to study rare diseases. This is why we ask our participants to update their information annually or anytime changes to their information occur.

Researchers can contact CoRDS to determine if the registry contains participants with the rare disease they are researching. If the researcher determines there is a sufficient number of participants or data on the rare disease of interest within the registry, the researcher can apply for access. Upon approval from the CoRDS Scientific Advisory Board, CoRDS staff will reach out to participants on behalf of the researcher. It is then up to the participant to determine if they would like to join the study.

Visit sanfordresearch.org/CoRDS to enroll.

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Mom who out of the blue developed ITP at 47.
Have had many bouts of auto immune disease...the last being simultaneous Warm and Cold Aglutanin Hemolytic Anamia. Treated with High Dose Cytoxan 14 months ago. Also have idiopathic thrombocytopena...
my dad pass away on november 11 2oo8 from what docs said it was idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura where your body antibodys kills your platelets in your blood im his son it hurt me to bad inside...
Diagnosed with ITP in Feb 2007

 

Married, 2 kids, 2 cats

 

 

Last count, platelets were 71,000. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, and my counts are still high, and I have not yet...
I actually have an undiagnosed inherited platelet disorder. I was diagnosed with ITP at birth, my father and his mother have it too. (knowing even less about inherited platelet disorders back then,...

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Discussion Forum

Approved medicine in Japan to treat thrombocytopenia

Created by Felicity1980 | Last updated 8 Mar 2020, 08:10 AM

Treatments for Aquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia ITP

Created by kcamiel | Last updated 11 Feb 2009, 01:46 PM


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