Immune thrombocytopenic purpura

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Background

  • Abbreviation: ITP
  • Known as both "idiopathic" or "immune" thrombocytopenic purpura
  • Acquired autoimmune disease resulting in destruction of platelets
  • Because circulating platelets are functional, life-threatening bleeding only once platelet count <10K

Types

Charateristic Acute ITP Chronic ITP
Common age group Younger children Adults
Sex Affects men/women equally Usually women
Duration Resolves in 1-2 months Lasts > 3 months
Cause Typically follows viral illness More likely to have an underlying disease or autoimmune disorder (e.g. SLE)
Prognosis Rarely remits spontaneously or with treatment

Clinical Features

Differential Diagnosis

Thrombocytopenia

Decreased production

  • Marrow infiltration (tumor or infection)
  • Viral infections (rubella, HIV)
  • Marrow Suppression (commonly chemotherapy or radiation)
  • Congentital thrombocytopenia
    • Fanconi anemia
    • Alport syndrome
    • Bernand Soulier
  • Vitamin B12 and/or folate deficiency

Increased platelet destruction or use

Drug Induced

  • sulfa antibiotics, ETOH, ASA, thiazides/furosemide

Comparision by Etiology

ITP TTP HUS HIT DIC
↓ PLT Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
↑PT/INR No No No +/- Yes
MAHA No Yes Yes No No
↓ Fibrinogen No No No No Yes
Ok to give PLT Yes No No No Yes

Petechiae/Purpura (by cause)

Evaluation

  • 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)

Management

Options

  • First choice in adults: Corticosteroids
    • Prednisone 60-100mg/d with taper after count reaches normal (50-75% remission rate by 3 wks)
    • 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
  • High dose Anti-D (RhoGAM): patient must be Rh+ for it to work
    • Causes shift towards splenic destruction of antibody-coated Rh+ RBCs
    • Thereby has less functional capacity to destroy platelets
    • Dosage dependent on Hb level in mg/dL[1]
      • Hb>10, 250 IU/kg IV x1 over 5min
      • Hb<10, 125 IU/kg IV x1 over 5min
  • Platelet transfusion
    • Indicated for life-threatening bleeding
    • Will ultimately be destroyed
    • Transfuse only following first dose of methylprednisolone or IVIG
      • Holding transfusion until after first dose results in greater rise in platelet count
      • Calculate number of packs needed to increase count to over 50k (1 pack generally increases by 10k)
  • Estrogen for uterine bleeding: 25mg IV x1

Indications

Adults

  • Platlet >30K and asymptomatic: usually do not require treatment
  • Platlet count <30K: prednisone
  • Platlet <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

Other Options

  • Splenectomy if above fails
  • Rho(D) Immune Globulin (RhoGAM)
    • Will induce mild hemolysis in Rh+ patients that decreases macrophage activity
    • Spleen will not destroy platelets covered in antibodies
  • Rituximab
    • May help as ITP is autoimmune process

Disposition

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

Complications

See Also

References

  1. eMedicine. RhoGAM. http://reference.medscape.com/drug/rhogam-hyperrho-s-d-rho-d-immune-globulin-343143.