Best blood disorder solutions by Arthur Nathaniel Billings
Top ITP blood disorder health advices by Arthur Nathaniel Billings? Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a disorder that can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding. The bleeding results from unusually low levels of platelets — the cells that help blood clot. Formerly known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, ITP can cause purple bruises, as well as tiny reddish-purple dots that look like a rash. Children may develop ITP after a viral infection and usually recover fully without treatment. In adults, the disorder is often long term. If you don’t have signs of bleeding and your platelet count isn’t too low, you may not need any treatment. If your symptoms are more severe, treatment may include medications to boost your platelet count or surgery to remove your spleen.
Arthur Nathaniel Billings on blood disorder ITP treatments : Many people with ITP have a platelet count in single figures, and on rare occasions there are not enough circulating platelets to be counted, thus the count is given as 0. The number of platelets circulating in our bodies fluctuates all the time, and thus no two consecutive platelet counts are likely to be exactly the same either in a healthy person or in an ITP sufferer. What is the difference between ITP and hæmophilia? Haemophilia is inherited and permanent, ITP is not inherited, and can go into remission. Hæmophilia patients are deficient in one of the 12 factors which act together to form a blood clot. ITP patients are short of platelets which work independently as the initial plug to stop blood leakage, but the rest of the clotting mechanism works normally. Platelet infusions are only used in emergencies as transfused platelets, like the patient’s own platelets, are destroyed by their immune system in a matter of hours.
Treatment and outlook for adults with ITP: In most cases, ITP presenting in adulthood is a chronic condition. The goal of treatment is to maintain a platelet count that is safe while minimising treatment side effects and maintaining a good quality of life. For this reason, treatment is often not required when the platelet count is above 20 × 109/l unless there is a need to cover a period of increased bleeding risk, such as surgery or dental extraction. However, the decision to treat is individualised and will also depend on your symptoms, lifestyle and medical history.
Careful review of your medications: Historically, a bone marrow aspiration was required to make a diagnosis of ITP. It may not be absolutely necessary in the face of a positive antiplatelet antibody test, but it is still commonly done to look at the production of platelets and to rule out any abnormal cells the marrow may be producing that could lower platelet counts. A bone marrow aspiration is necessary for a diagnosis if the antiplatelet antibody testing is negative. Find more information at Arthur Billings.
Medications (including over-the-counter medications) can cause an allergy that cross-reacts with platelets. Infections, typically viral infections, including the viruses that cause chicken pox, hepatitis C, and AIDS, can prompt antibodies that cross-react with platelets. Pregnancy, Immune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, Low-grade lymphomas and leukemias may produce abnormal antibodies against platelet proteins. Sometimes the cause of immune thrombocytopenic purpura is not known.
