Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura, also called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or immune thrombocytopenia, is an autoimmune disorder of blood clotting marked by a low platelet count with no other identified cause. It increases the risk of bleeding from mucosal surfaces and the skin, producing purple bruising and tiny hemorrhagic spots called petechiae. An acute form in children typically follows a viral infection and resolves on its own within two months, while a chronic form in adults persists beyond six months without an identifiable cause; both forms involve antibodies that target proteins on the surface of platelets and destroy them. Diagnosis depends on ruling out other causes of low platelets through blood testing and sometimes bone marrow examination, and treatment ranges from watchful observation in mild cases to corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, anti-D immunoglobulin, or immune-suppressing drugs when platelet counts fall low enough to risk serious bleeding.