hematology and oncology
Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)
Introduction
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder usually without anemia or leukopenia. Typically, it is chronic in adults, but it is usually acute and self-limited in children. Spleen size is normal in the absence of another underlying condition. Diagnosis is usually clinical, based on exclusion of other causes of thrombocytopenia (eg, HIV infection, hepatitis C infection). Treatment includes corticosteroids, splenectomy, immunosuppressants, thrombopoietin receptor agonist drugs, or the spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitorfostamatinib. For life-threatening bleeding, platelet transfusions, IV corticosteroids, IV anti-D immune globulin, or IV immune globulin may be used individually or in combination. (See also Overview of Platelet Disorders .) infection, and treatment of the infection has been followed by remission of the ITP ( General reference ). COVID-19 infection rarely causes ITP, but COVID-19 vaccination may worsen thrombocytopenia in 2 to 12% of patients with ITP. 