Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

To understand what the meaning of ITP -which also sometimes called immune thrombocytopenic purpura-, we will go throw the words one by one as follows:

• Idiopathic: By this word, we mean that the causes of the disease means are not known.
• Thrombocytopenic:  We mean by this word that there are not enough platelets (also called thrombocytes) in the blood. Platelets are the tiny cells responsible of forming blood clots to seal minor cuts and wounds.
• Purpura: this means that the patient has excessive bruising.

Although the person suffering from ITP will has too few platelets, he may has all the other blood cells normally and without any problems or rareness. The decrease in platelets causes:

• A lot of bruises and bleeding for long time when the person is injured.
• Nosebleed that is difficult to stop.
• Bleeding in the intestines.
• Bleeding in the brain which may include minor trauma.

ITP has many signs and symptoms such as:

• Easy or excessive bruising.
• For any injure, it takes a very long time to stop bleeding.
• Some small reddish purple dots on the skin, especially on legs, because of  the bleeding under the surface of the skin.
• Maybe there will be a blood in the urine or stools caused by the bleed in the intestines.
• Menstrual flow in women will be abundant.
• Nose and gums may bleed without reason.

In normal cases, the body forms antibodies that destroy unhealthy bacteria or viruses. But, for people who have ITP, their bodies start forming antibodies that destroy their own blood platelets. Until now, it is not known why these bodies form such antibodies to do that. Although ITP is not contagious and does not “pass” from one person to another, it also does not seem hereditary.

ITP can be diagnosed by making tests on the blood that count the number of platelets in a sample, also, the doctor may ask for a bone marrow exam to know to make sure of any other possible causes for the symptoms appears on the patient.

For that people who have ITP, they should not take any medicines without the admission of their doctors since some medicines may complicate the problem especially medicines that increase risks for bleeding such as:

• Warfarin, which used to treat an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation.
• Over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

Alcohol also helps to decrease the ability of the blood to clot, so, patient with ITP should limit it.