The ITP is the disorder in the human body when an easy bruising or bleeding occurs due to a minor injury and that occurs with the reduction of platelets. In that case, it can be said that the ITP disease occurs when the platelets cells are attacked by the human immune system. In the case of children, this disease may occur for any viral infection and for adults this disease can be chronic for people. This has some common symptoms like easily bleeding or injury or spots in the body parts especially in the lower feet of the legs.
ITP full form
ITP or Immune thrombocytopenic purpura is nothing but a blood disorder in which platelets become smeared with autoantibodies to platelet membrane antigens, resulting in a reduced number of platelets in the blood. In this regard, it can be said that platelets are the cells that are liable to help stop bleeding or help blood clots. Therefore, reduction in platelets can cause excessive bruising as well as gum bleeding, and also internal bleeding. ITP can also be referred to as the autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura that is basically caused by the development of abnormal antibodies against the platelets.
Moreover, it can be said that both children, as well as adults, can develop such a type of blood disorder, but the recovery rate may vary. The two forms of ITP available: Acute “thrombocytopenic purpura” which normally affects children of ages two to six. Acute ITP normally develops after a viral infection such as “chickenpox” as well as the symptoms totally vanishing within a short period of time without treatment. Another is chronic thrombocytopenic purpura which can affect any age group, as well as its symptoms, can last for several years or sometimes for a lifetime. Normally females are found to have it compared to males and it requires continuous treatment under a haematologist.
Causes of ITP
In the case of Immune thrombocytopenic purpura, the immune system of a person is invigorated to invade the body’s own platelets due to the generation of antibodies against platelets. Moreover, this is nothing but a blood disorder in which the platelet count decreases in the blood. In most cases, it has been found that platelets are directly assaulted by white blood cells or T-cells. There are several causes behind the occurrence of such immune system faults. Some are listed below.
- Several viral infections comprising the viruses that can develop chickenpox, AIDS as well as hepatitis C in human bodies, can ferment antibodies that are liable to decrease the platelets count
- Several disorders like “lupus” as well as “rheumatoid arthritis” can cause ITP in the human body
- Moreover, abnormal antibodies are generated against the platelet proteins by “leukemias” as well as “poorly graded lymphomas”
Symptoms of ITP
In the case of ITP, the platelet count is decreased than the normal count of platelets that ranges from 150,000 to 450,000. Moreover, at the time of bleeding a person can have a platelet count even lesser than 10,000. There are several different symptoms that can be experienced by each person. These are listed below.
- Blood can be found in the vomit as well as urine or stool
- Gum bleeding can occur
- Heavy menstrual periods can be experienced by females
- There are several red dots that can be found in the skin that can also result in little bleeds.
- The most dangerous symptom of ITP is bleeding in the head in the case of any head injury. It can cause death
- Bruises can occur at the joints of the human body like knees, elbows from deportment
Treatments offered to ITP
This disease can become chronic for adults and this disease cannot be easily or voluntarily cured without any medications. The application of Glucocorticoids is the best treatment of this disease which can make the patients feel better. The medication of this disease can be mentioned as below:
- Application of Steroids
The application of steroids can be recommended by doctors to gain platelet counts. A corticosteroid like Prednisone can be prescribed by doctors. After getting the platelet count at a safe level the patient can reduce the use of this medicine otherwise it can cause infection or high blood sugar etc.
- Anti-D Immune Globulin
Human beings having the diseases ITP generally are unable in clotting of blood due to lack of platelets. Corticosteroids are given to those individuals having ITP syndrome to artificially clot the blood. But sometimes these steroids also don’t work in certain extreme cases then Intervenousglobulin (IVIG) and anti-D immune globulin are injected to those individuals for artificial clotting of blood. This affect of medication can last till a fortnight.
- Drugs to boost Platelet Production
There are some drugs that can help to produce platelets through the production of bone marrow. Eltrombopag (Promacta), Romiplostim (NPlate) are the types of drugs that can help to produce more platelets and bone marrow in the body, however, the continuity in the user can cause excessive blood clots in the body.
These are the common and popular treatments and medications for the ITP disease. Besides that, the application of Rituximab (Rituxan, Truxima) can help in this disease by enhancing the platelet count in the human body and it can reduce the immune function that causes the harm of platelets.
Conclusion
As per all the above discussion, it can be said that the factors of the ITP disease are accurately discussed here with the various factors and components of this disease. In that case, it can be said that the origin and the reason for the disease have been accurately discussed in this article. Therefore, it can be said that this article has become the accurate one for the ITP disease and its description.