What is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Contents

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Introduction
Types of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Prognosis
Complications
Prevalence
Other names for Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Who gets Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura?
What causes Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura?
What are the symptoms of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura?
Organs Affected by Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Can anyone else get Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura?
How is it treated?
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Introduction

What is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Reduced blood platelets causing visible skin blemishes from bleeding or bruising.
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Thrombocytopenia occurring in the absence of toxic exposure or a disease associated with decreased platelets. It is mediated by immune mechanisms, in most cases IMMUNOGLOBULIN G autoantibodies which attach to platelets and subsequently undergo destruction by macrophages. The disease is seen in acute (affecting children) and chronic (adult) forms.
Source - Diseases Database

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, or a subtype of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Introduction

Types of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura:

Types of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura:

Idiopathic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura - of unknown cause.
Secondary Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura - caused by some other condition.
Acute thrombocytopenic purpura - usually temporary
Chronic thrombocytopenic purpura - lasting more than 6 months.
more types...»

Broader types of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura:

How many people get Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Prevalance of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: rare.

Who gets Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Patient Profile for Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Acute ITP more common in children, often after a virus. Chronic ITP more common in adults.

Gender Profile for Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Acute ITP equally boys or girls; chronic ITP more common in women 2-1 than men.

How serious is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Prognosis of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Acute ITP: 85% of children recover within 1 year and have no remissions.
Complications of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: see complications of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura