Arthur Nathaniel Billings ITP blood disorder solutions right now? What is ITP? Immune thrombocytopenia (formerly known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) is a medical term for an autoimmune disorder (immune) causing a shortage of platelets (thrombocytopenia) and bruising (purpura). What is the cause of ITP? ITP is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakes the platelets as being foreign and destroys them. It can follow a virus, vaccination or certain medications, but for most people the cause is unknown.
Arthur Nathaniel Billings about ITP blood disorder treatments : What are platelets? There are three types of blood cell which are all formed in the bone marrow; red cells, white cells and platelets. Platelets, which are small and sticky and circulate in the bloodstream provide the inital plug to stop bruising and bleeding after an injury, and stop blood leaking from capilleries. A blood sample is taken to measure the circulating platelets, and in most people there are between 150,000 and 400,000 platelets in every cubic millimetre of blood. However in the USA we simplify this by describing a platelet count of, say, 150 rather than 150,000. Anyone with a count less than 100 would be considered thrombocytopenic (ie. short of platelets).
Diagnosis of ITP: There is no single blood test that can prove you have ITP, and it remains a diagnosis of exclusion based on history, examination and the results of your initial tests. Investigations are mainly blood tests and are focused on looking for underlying causes of low platelets (other causes for low platelets include vitamin deficiencies, medication, or a bone marrow abnormality). If there are any unusual features on initial tests, we may recommend a bone marrow examination, which is a day unit procedure where we take a small sample of marrow from the pelvic bone under local anaesthetic.
Careful review of your medications: Historically, a bone marrow aspiration was required to make a diagnosis of ITP. It may not be absolutely necessary in the face of a positive antiplatelet antibody test, but it is still commonly done to look at the production of platelets and to rule out any abnormal cells the marrow may be producing that could lower platelet counts. A bone marrow aspiration is necessary for a diagnosis if the antiplatelet antibody testing is negative. Read additional details on Arthur Nathaniel Billings.
What are the symptoms of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura? Normal platelet count is in the range of 150,000 to 450,000. With ITP, the platelet count is less than 100,000. By the time significant bleeding occurs, you may have a platelet count of less than 10,000. The lower the platelet count, the greater the risk of bleeding. Because platelets help stop bleeding, the symptoms of ITP are related to increased bleeding. However, each person may experience symptoms differently.