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ITP
By James Runco
Everyone bleeds sometimes, I just bleed more.
ITP
ITP stands for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura but it is also frequently called: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura or Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia
Background Information
There are three Basic types of blood cells made in the marrow of the bones each with their own specialized jobs.
Red Blood Cells (Rbcs) Carry Oxygen White Blood Cells (Wbcs) Protect your body from infection Platelets (Plts) Help your help your body to heal injuries
Symptoms of ITP
Excessive bleeding with minor injuries Spontaneous bleeding from the mouth and nose Unexplainable or spontaneous bruising Excessive internal bleeding Disturbed sleep cycle/ Insomnia Irregular appetite Depression
This is Jane
Causes
The exact causes of ITP are as yet unknown, but there is currently research going on to try and determine what causes this disease. There are many theories, most state that ITP is a multifactorial disease with a strong genetic predisposition. Researchers are currently looking for multiple instances of ITP in a family, and have found that in some cases ITP can be passed from mother to child.
Theories
Three most common theories for ITP are: The Microbial Trigger Theory The Molecular Mimicry Theory and The Free Radical Damage Theory
Links the destruction of platelets to a chemical called interleuken 12 that is released when the body is fighting a bacterial infection They believe that in some people this interleuken 12 can inadvertently activate dormant self reactive cells that then convince your body that a cell near the bacteria is also part of the infection If that cell is a specialized platelet then you would develop ITP
This theory says that someone can develop ITP when the bodies T helper cells recognize a viral or bacteria amino acid sequence that happens to occur on the surface of a platelet Normally T helpers that would target somatic cells are inhibited by other immune agents. If there is a malfunction in the production of these inhibiting agents then the self reactive T helper cells are free to target platelets for destruction
Diagnosis
ITP is often the Diagnosed by its symptoms. It is frequently the diagnosis when all other blood diseases are ruled out and there seems to be the body mounting an attack against the platelets There are different forms of ITP. Some children experience a disease which is listed as ITP because it is thrombocytopenia with an unknown origin. However it differs from adult and chronic childhood ITP because many of these childhood cases last only a matter of months and then go into permanent remission.
ITP Statistics
Approximately 200,000 people in the US have ITP In Adults women are three times more likely to have ITP than men, but in children the statistics are fairly even The percentage rate of ITP cases is increasing. Each year there are approximately 20,000 new cases or about 10 to 125 per million people.
Treatment
In most cases ITP is not fatal and can be treated. There is a wide variety of treatment options, but with only partial success due to the unknown nature of the disease. The most commonly excepted, and most successful treatments for ITP involve the removal of the spleen because it is a site for autoantibody production. People are also very commonly given Prednisone which is an artificial steroid which can enhance platelet production For emergency case treatment (normally when platelets get below 20,000) They will administer IV G or intravenous gammaglobulin for several days, and they wait for counts to rebound
Sources
Platelet Disorder Support Association www.ITPpeople.com Scripps Institute website http://seconde.scripps.edu/ltp