Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) Ali Al Khader, M.D. Faculty of Medicine Al-Balqa’ Applied University Email: ali.alkhader@bau.edu.jo

ITP 2 clinical subtypes 1-Chronic…relatively common …women between 20 & 40 2-Acute…self-limited …mostly in children after viral infection

Chronic ITP Antibodies against platelet membrane glycoproteins IIb/IIIa or Ib/IX …detected in roughly 80% of cases of chronic ITP The spleen is an important site of: -anti-platelet antibody production -destruction of the IgG-coated platelets The bone marrow usually contains increased numbers of megakaryocytes …a finding common to all forms of thrombocytopenia caused by accelerated platelet destruction

Chronic ITP, clinical features Petechiae, easy bruising, epistaxis, gum bleeding, and hemorrhages after minor trauma …more serious intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhages are uncommon

ITP, diagnosis Clinical features The presence of thrombocytopenia Examination of the marrow The exclusion of secondary ITP…due to drugs or autoimmune disease

Chronic ITP, treatment Treatment usually involves the use of immunosuppressive agents and, in some cases, splenectomy Splenomegaly is not a feature of uncomplicated chronic ITP …However, splenectomy: …normalizes the platelet count …induces a complete remission in more than two-thirds of patients

Thank You