Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Introduction
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic Purpura is an acquired disease of children and adults and defined as isolated thrombocytopenia with no clinically apparent associated condition or other causes of thrombocytopenia. The diagnosis relies on exclusion of other causes of thrombocytopenia.
Risk Factors
Signs and symptoms
• Clinical feature for adult thrombocytopenia appears to be more common in young women than in young men but among older patients, the sex incidence may be equal.
• Most adult patient presents with a long history of Purpura, menorrhagia, epistaxis and gingival haemorrhage are more common.
• Intracerebral haemorrhage occurs infrequently but is the most cause of death overt bleeding is rare unless thrombocytopenia severe (less than 10,000/µl)
Note: A palpable spleen strongly suggests that ITP is not the cause for thrombocytopenia.
Diagnostic criteria
Investigations
Treatment
-
Non-pharmacological
- Splenectomy is indicated in patient with refractory to prednisolone.
-
Pharmacological
- • Prednisolone 1mg/kg/day (PO) for 3–6 months then taper 10mg weekly (For all patients with platelet counts below 30,000 to 50,000µl)
OR
• IV Immunoglobulin may be given as a single dose infusion of 0.41.0g/kg followed by immediately platelets transfusion
• 1 mg/kg/day for 7 days and tapered over a week
Prevention
Updated on,
14 Novemba 2020 13:03:40
References
- 1. STG