Healthy Habits: Immune Thrombocytopenia

Imagine finding bruises that seem to randomly appear on your body, or having your skin erupt in dozens of tiny red spots. When you have immune thrombocytopenia, or ITP, your immune system attacks your platelets – the cells in your bloodstream that are responsible for clotting.¹  A low platelet count makes it hard for the body to stop bleeding – leading to sometimes intense fatigue and causing the tell-tale purple bruises and tiny red spots on the skin that are hallmarks of the disease.¹ In some cases, the bleeding can be life threatening.¹

The exact cause of ITP is still unknown, although some cases have been linked to certain foods, medications or other diseases that cause low platelet counts.² Women are 2 to 3 times more likely than men to develop the chronic form of this rare and potentially serious blood disorder.¹ Acute ITP typically lasts less than 6 months and primarily affects children.¹ Adults more commonly suffer from chronic ITP, when the condition lasts 6 months or longer.¹

Many patients live in fear of uncontrolled bleeding or may feel embarrassed by the appearance of the red spots.³ Because a low platelet count can be a symptom of other blood disorders, doctors must first rule out all other causes before diagnosing a patient with ITP.¹ Treatment depends on how severe the symptoms are and may include making certain lifestyle changes, like avoiding overexertion.⁴

I had a chance to interview Ivy Paige Altomare, M.D., a medical oncologist at Duke Health and associate professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Altomare will be available to discuss the diagnosis and burden of ITP, and goal of treatment. ITP patient Linda Dorasami also shares her personal story about what it’s like living with this rare blood disease.

References

1.     National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (2018). Immune Thrombocytopenia. Available at https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/immune-thrombocytopenia.Accessed March 14, 2018.

2.    Platelet Support Disorders Association (2018). About ITP: Causes. Available at https://www.pdsa.org/about-itp/causes.html. Accessed May 17, 2018.

3.    Mathias, Susan D., et al. "Impact of chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) on health-related quality of life: a conceptual model starting with the patient perspective." Health and quality of life outcomes 6.1 (2008): 1.

4.    ITP Foundation (2018). How is ITP treated? Available athttp://www.itpfoundation.org/itpdefined.htm. Accessed May 17, 2018.