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  3. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
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Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura


Title




Other Names:
ITP; Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura; Thrombocytopenic purpura autoimmune
Categories:
Blood Diseases

Summary Summary


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Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding disorder characterized by too few platelets in the blood. This is because platelets are being destroyed by the immune system. Symptoms may include bruising, nosebleed or bleeding in the mouth, bleeding into the skin, and abnormally heavy menstruation. With treatment, the chance of remission (a symptom-free period) is good. Rarely, ITP may become a chronic ailment in adults and reappear, even after remission.[1]
Last updated: 6/6/2016

Symptoms Symptoms


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This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Showing of 12 |
Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Thrombocytopenia
Low platelet count
0001873
Thromboembolism 0001907
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Arterial thrombosis
Blood clot in artery
0004420
Petechiae 0000967
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Bruising susceptibility
Bruise easily
Easy bruisability
Easy bruising
[ more ]
0000978
Epistaxis
Bloody nose
Frequent nosebleeds
Nose bleed
Nose bleeding
Nosebleed
[ more ]
0000421
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Gastrointestinal bleeding
0002239
Gingival bleeding
Bleeding gums
0000225
1%-4% of people have these symptoms
Cerebral hemorrhage
Bleeding in brain
0001342
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Abnormal bleeding
Bleeding tendency
0001892
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Platelet antibody positive 0003454
Showing of 12 |
Do you have more information about symptoms of this disease? We want to hear from you.
Last updated: 2/1/2021
Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you.

Diagnosis Diagnosis


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Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Treatment Treatment


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FDA-Approved Treatments

The medication(s) listed below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as orphan products for treatment of this condition. Learn more orphan products.

  • Immune Globulin Injection (Human) 10% Caprylate/Chromatography Purified (Brand name: Gammaked) - Manufactured by Kedrion Biopharma
    FDA-approved indication: The treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) to improve neuromuscular disability and impairment and for maintenance therapy to prevent relapse, primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI) in patients 2 years of age and older, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) to raise platelet counts to prevent bleeding or to allow a patient with ITP to undergo surgery.
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
  • Human immunoglobulin (human) (Brand name: Gammaplex) - Manufactured by Bio Products Laboratory
    FDA-approved indication: In adults for treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
  • Immune globulin injection [human], 10% caprylate/chromatography purified (Brand name: Gamunex-C) - Manufactured by Grifols
    FDA-approved indication: Treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) to improve neuromuscular disability and impairment and for maintenance therapy to prevent relapse. Also for use for the treatment of primary immunodeficiency disease (PIDD) in patients 2 years of age and older and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
  • Romiplostim (Brand name: Nplate) - Manufactured by Amgen, Inc
    FDA-approved indication: December 2018, romiplostim (Nplate) received expanded approval for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in pediatric patients 1 year of age and older with ITP for at least 6 months who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, or splenectomy. Previously in August 2008, it was approved for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, or splenectomy.
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
    Medline Plus Health Information
  • Immune globulin intravenous (human), 10% liquid (Brand name: Privigen) - Manufactured by CSL Behring
    FDA-approved indication: September 2017, immune globulin intravenous (human), 10% liquid (Privigen) was approved for the treatment of adults with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) to improve neuromuscular disability and impairment, however it was not studied for use longer than 6 months. It was also approved for the treatment of patients age 15 years and older with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) to raise platelet counts, and as replacement therapy for primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI).
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
  • Eltrombopag (Brand name: Promacta) - Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline
    FDA-approved indication: Treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, or splenectomy.
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
    Medline Plus Health Information
  • Fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate (Brand name: Tavalisse) - Manufactured by Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    FDA-approved indication: April 2018 approved for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment.
  • Rho (D) immunoglobulin intravenous (human) (Brand name: WinRho SD) - Manufactured by Baxter
    FDA-approved indication: Treatment of adults and children with chronic and acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal

Find a Specialist Find a Specialist


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If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

  • To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from MedlinePlus Genetics.

Related Diseases Related Diseases


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Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
The differential diagnosis should include causes of secondary ITP (drug-induced ITP), autoimmune diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus; see this term), HIV infection and hepatitis C.
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Research Research


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Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Patient Registry

  • A registry supports research by collecting of information about patients that share something in common, such as being diagnosed with Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The type of data collected can vary from registry to registry and is based on the goals and purpose of that registry. Some registries collect contact information while others collect more detailed medical information. Learn more about registries.

    Registries for Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura:
    ITP Natural History Study Registry
     

Organizations Organizations


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Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

  • National Blood Clot Alliance
    8321 Old Courthouse Road
    Suite 255
    Vienna, VA 22182
    Toll-free: 1-877-466-2568 (877-4NO-CLOT)
    Telephone: +1-703-935-8845
    E-mail: info@stoptheclot.org
    Website: https://www.stoptheclot.org/
  • Platelet Disorder Support Association
    8751 Brecksville Road
    Suite 150
    Cleveland, OH 44141
    Toll-free: 87-PLATELET (1-877-528-3538)
    Telephone: 440-746-9003
    Fax: 844-270-1277
    E-mail: pdsa@pdsa.org
    Website: http://www.pdsa.org/

Organizations Providing General Support

  • American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA)
    19176 Hall Road, Suite 130
    Clinton Township, MI 48038
    Toll-free: 800-598-4668
    Telephone: 586-776-3900
    Fax: 586-776-3903
    E-mail: aarda@aarda.org
    Website: https://www.aarda.org/
  • Vascular Cures
    274 Redwood Shores Parkway, #717
    Redwood City, CA 94065
    Telephone: +1-650-368-6022
    E-mail: info@vascularcures.org
    Website: https://vascularcures.org/
Do you know of an organization? We want to hear from you.

Living With Living With


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Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Financial Resources

  • Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN Foundation) has Assistance Programs for those with health insurance who reside in the United States. The disease fund status can change over time, so you may need to check back if funds are not currently available. 

Learn More Learn More


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These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
  • The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has information on this topic. NHLBI is part of the National Institutes of Health and supports research, training, and education for the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • MeSH® (Medical Subject Headings) is a terminology tool used by the National Library of Medicine. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

News & Events News & Events


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News

  • Rare Disease Day at NIH 2021
    March 1, 2021

GARD Answers GARD Answers


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Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • Is idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura hereditary? See answer

  • I was first diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, which then progressed to Evans syndrome. I had a splenectomy and have since been in remission. My husband and I have been together for 10 years, and in this time I have not conceived. Can Evans syndrome cause infertility? If I do get pregnant, would there be a chance my child could have the same condition? See answer


Have a question? Contact a GARD Information Specialist.

References References


  1. Gersten T. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). MedlinePlus. February 24, 2014; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000535.htm.
Do you know of a review article? We want to hear from you.
You can help advance
rare disease research!
You can help advance rare disease research!
toolbox
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