Illnesses & Conditions
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Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Synonyms
Disorder Subdivisions
General Discussion
Resources
For a Complete Report

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpurais not the name you expected.

Synonyms

• ITP
• Purpura Hemorrhagica ITP
• Werlhof disease

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a rare autoimmune bleeding disorder characterized by the abnormally low levels of certain blood cells called platelets, creating a condition known as thrombocytopenia. Platelets are specialized blood cells that help prevent and stop bleeding by inducing clotting. In ITP, there is no readily apparent cause or underlying disease (idiopathic). The cells of the immune system, lymphocytes, produce anti-platelet antibodies that attach to the platelets. The presence of antibodies on platelets leads to their destruction in the spleen. The disorder is characterized by abnormal bleeding into the skin resulting in bruising, which is what the term purpura means. Bleeding from mucous membranes also occurs, and may subsequently result in low levels of circulating red blood cells (anemia).

ITP presents as a brief, self-limiting form of the disorder (acute ITP) or a longer-term form (chronic ITP). Acute ITP accounts for about 90% of cases, and chronic ITP accounts for the remainder. Eighty percent (80%) of the children with ITP have the acute form while the chronic form affects mostly adults. The acute form usually resolves without treatment (spontaneously) within three to six months. When thrombocytopenia lasts for more than six to 12 months, ITP is classified as the chronic form. Onset of acute ITP is often rapid, while the onset of the chronic form may be gradual.

Resources

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe, MI 48021-2227
Tel: (586)776-3900
Fax: (586)776-3903
Tel: (800)598-4668
Email: aarda@aarda.org
Internet: http://www.aarda.org/

ITP Society of the Children's Blood Foundation
Children's Blood Foundation
333 East 38th Street
Suite 830
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212)297-4336
Fax: (212)297-4340
Tel: (800)487-7010
Internet: http://www.childrensbloodfoundation.org/

NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
Tel: (301)592-8573
Fax: (301)251-1223
Email: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov

ITP People Place
P.O. Box 61533
Potomac, MD 20859
USA
Tel: 3017706636
Fax: 3017706638
Tel: 8775283538
Email: pdsa@pdsa.org
Internet: http://www.itppeople.com

NIH/Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Tel: (301)402-0764
Fax: (301)402-3088
Email: zamaniw@nhlbi.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhlbi/seekpat/hematol.htm

Platelet Disorder Support Association
135 Rollins Ave Suites
Rockville, MD 20852
USA
Tel: 3017706636
Fax: 3017706638
Tel: 8775283538
Email: pdsa@pdsa.org
Internet: http://www.pdsa.org

MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: 9203365333
Fax: 9203390995
Tel: 8773365333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

ITP Foundation
381 Post Rd
Darien, CT 06820
USA
Tel: 2036556954
Fax: 2036557997
Email: info@itpfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.itpfoundation.org

ITP Support Association
Synehurst, Kimbolton Road
Bolnhurst, Beds, MK44 2EW
United Kingdom
Tel: 01144 0870 777 0559
Fax: 01144 0870 777 0559
Email: shirley@itpsupport.org.uk
Internet: http://www.itpsupport.org.uk

Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick, NJ 08723
Tel: (732)664-9259
Email: autoimmunehelp@aol.com
Internet: http://www.aininc.org

European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)
c/o Dr. Esther de Vries
Jeroen Bosch Hospital
Dept. Paediatrics
P.O. Box 90153
Hertogenbosch, 5200 ME's
Netherlands
Tel: +31 73-6992965
Fax: +31 73-6992948
Email: info@esid.org
Internet: http://www.esid.org

AutoImmunity Community

Tel: (919)-55-2-9057
Email: bandrews@autoimmunitycommunity.org
Internet: http://autoimmunitycommunity.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  11/24/2008
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