Definition:
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding condition in which the blood doesn't clot as it is supposed to. This is because of a low number of blood cells called platelets.
Diagnosis:
Current clinical practice diagnostic criteria include thrombocytopenia, schistocytosis, and significant increases in serum LDH levels to suggest the diagnosis of TTP.
Treatment:
Treatment depends on how severe the bleeding symptoms are and the platelet count, while in mild cases, treatment may not be needed.
Symptoms and Signs:
People who have ITP tyipcally have purple bruises that appear on the skin or on the mucous membranes (for example, in the mouth). The bruises mean that bleeding has occurred in small blood vessels underneath the skin. A person who has ITP may also have bleeding that results in tiny red or purple dots on the skin. These dots, typically seen on the lower legs, are called petechiae.
Causes:
In most cases, the body's immune system is thought to lead to ITP. Normally the immune system helps the body fight off infections and diseases, but with ITP, thw immune system attacks and destroys its own platelets—for an unknown reason
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