Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire - October 25, 1995
"The symptoms include abnormal, spontaneous bruising; small black blood blisters in the mouth; bleeding from the nose or mouth, or in the urine or bowel movements; and small red dots on the skin that do not whiten when you put pressure on them," advised James Bussel MD, medical advisor to the ITP Society and associate professor of pediatrics at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.
"Support is needed for ITP sufferers because the disease profoundly affects the way we live. When our blood count is low we are constantly aware that an everyday occurrence like bumping into a table or picking up a wriggly child, can have serious medical consequences said Debra Ressler, ITP Society president. "Parents of children with ITP need the tools to explain why some activities -- like contact sports -- can be very dangerous during a low count period," she added.
"The ITP Society has established a toll-free number, 1-800-ITP-7010, which patients and professionals may call for more information. We can provide callers with a brochure and with names of medical professionals in their region who can help them in the diagnosis and treatment of this illness," said Ressler.
"ITP is a blood disorder which results in the destruction of blood platelets. Because blood platelets have an essential role in blood clotting, ITP can lead to uncontrolled bleeding and excessive bruising. ITP may occur as a primary disease or in association with another underlying condition, as in the case of HIV infection," explained Dr. Bussel. Although the exact cause of ITP is unknown, it is believed to be an autoimmune condition in which circulating antibodies bind to platelets and mediate their destruction by the immune system.
A platelet count over 150,000 is considered normal. Any patient with a platelet count below 150,000 is considered thrombocytopenic. However, most ITP patients are not threatened unless their platelet count falls below 50,000. Depending on individual circumstances, patients with platelet counts between 20,000 and 50,000 may receive treatment while patients with counts below 20,000 often require aggressive therapy. At these low platelet levels, the patient can experience frequent bleeding episodes and is at risk of potentially fatal central nervous system or gastrointestinal hemorrhages.
"The major therapeutic approaches for treating ITP include corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone, standard human intravenous immune globulin and chemotherapy," said Dr. Bussel. The only possible cure for ITP is splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen, the organ believed to keep blood healthy). A recent addition to the fight against ITP is the first and only virally inactivated Rho (D) Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), which can be administered intravenously within a matter of minutes.
The ITP Society was founded in September 1994 under the auspices of The Children's Blood Foundation, a 45-year-old organization devoted to finding the cures and treatments of children's blood disorders. The Society's goals are to promote the general welfare of patients with ITP by providing patient support and reerral services, supporting ongoing research to advance the knowledge and treatment of ITP and educating the public and medical community about the disease.
For more information, please contact The ITP Society, a division of The Children's Blood Foundation, 333 East 38th Street, New York, NY, 10016, 212-297-4336, or fax 212-297-4340.
CONTACT: Kara McCollum or Aimee Fischer for the ITP Society, 202-973-0360/ 10:03 EDT
Copyright (c) 1995/PR NewsWire. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
951025
PR951028
Copyright © 1995 - PRNewswire. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through PRNewswire, Permissions, 810 Seventh Ave., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019 http://www.prnewswire.com.
AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, iMetrikus, Inc., John M. Lloyd Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1995. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 1995. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .