Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura; ITP


Symptoms
  • Abnormally heavy menstruation
  • Bleeding into the skin causes a characteristic skin rash that looks like pinpoint red spots (petechial rash)
  • Easy bruising
  • Nosebleed or bleeding in the mouth

Signs and tests

Laboratory tests will be done to see how well your blood clots and to check your platelet count.

  • A complete blood count (CBC) shows a low number of platelets.
  • Blood clotting tests (PTT and PT) are normal.
  • Bleeding time is prolonged.
  • Platelet associated antibodies may be detected.

A bone marrow aspiration or biopsy appears normal or may show a greater than normal number of cells called megakaryocytes. These cells are an early form of platelets.


Review Date: 03/28/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)