Immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Background

• Acquired autoimmune disease resulting in destruction of platelets
• Because circulating platelets are functional, life-threatening bleeding only once platelet count <10K

Types

• Acute
  • More common among younger children
  • Affects men/women equally
  • Resolves in 1-2 months
• Chronic
  • Lasts > 3 months
  • More common in adults and women
  • Rarely remits spontaneously or with treatment
  • More likely to have an underlying disease or autoimmune disorder (e.g. SLE)

Clinical Features

• Petechiae
• Epistaxis, gingival bleeding, menorrhagia

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of exclusion
• Must differentiate acute ITP from chronic ITP, which suggests an underlying disorder
• CBC shows normal cell lines except for the platelets (may have mild anemia)

Treatment Options

• First choice in adults: Corticosteroids
  • Prednisone 60-100 mg/d with taper after count reaches normal
  • Methylprednisolone 30mg/kg/d IV x 3 days (for life-threatening bleeding)
• First choice in children: Intravenous Immunoglobulin G (IVIG) 1gm/kg/d x 2 days
• Anti-D (RhoGAM): patient must be Rh+ for it to work
• Transfusion (platelets)
  • Indicated for life-threatening bleeding
  • Transfuse only following first dose of methylprednisolone or IVIG
    • Holding transfusion until after first dose results in greater rise in platelet count
• Estrogen for uterine bleeding: 25mg IV x1

Treatment Indications

Adults

• Plt >30K and asymptomatic: usually do not require treatment
• Plt count <30K: prednisone
• Plt <50K AND bleeding: prednisone
• Life-threatening bleeding: IVIG, methylprednisolone, platelet transfusion

Children

• Platelet count >30K: usually do not require treatment
• Platelet count <20K + significant bleeding: IVIG
• Platelet count <10K: IVIG
• Life-threatening bleeding: IVIG, methylprednisolone, platelet transfusion

Disposition

• Admit: platelet count <20K or significant mucous membrane bleeding
• Discharge: platelet count >20K AND asymptomatic OR only minor petechiae

Complications

• Rare: more common in elderly
  • Intracerebral bleeding
  • Severe GI bleeding

See Also

• ITP in Pregnancy

Source

• Tintinalli
• UpToDate