Primary immune thrombocytopenia in adults: clinical practice versus management guidelines. Issue 1105 (18th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ng, Thomas; Gatt, Alex; Smith, Mark
• Is Part Of: Postgraduate medical journal. Volume 93:Issue 1105(2017)
• Page Start: 645
• Page End: 646
• Publication Date: 2017-07-18
• Subjects: Immune thrombocytopenia -- auto-antibody -- immune dysregulation; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2017-135036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-5473

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired, autoimmune haematological disease without an identifiable cause. The immune process is thought to be initiated by the generation of an autoantibody to platelet glycoproteins and sustained by an immune dysregulation of T-cells and cytokines, leading to progressive thrombocytopenia and increased risk of bleeding.1 Although most patients with ITP have mild to moderate thrombocytopenia and do not need treatment, adults with severe thrombocytopenia tend to suffer from recurrent relapses requiring medical intervention.