What Is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding condition in which the blood doesn’t clot as it should. This is due to a low number of blood cells called platelets (PLATE-lets).

Platelets are also called thrombocytes (THROM-bo-sites), and they’re made in your bone marrow (along with other kinds of blood cells). Platelets circulate through the blood vessels and help stop bleeding by sticking together (clotting) to seal small cuts or breaks.

Idiopathic (id-ee-o-PATH-ick) means that the cause of the disease or condition isn’t known. Thrombocytopenic (throm-bo-cy-toe-PEE-nick) means there is a lower-than-normal number of platelets in the blood. Purpura (PURR-purr-ah) are purple bruises caused by bleeding under the skin. More extensive bleeding can create a three-dimensional mass called a hematoma (he-ma-TO-ma).

People who have ITP often have purple bruises that appear on the skin or on the mucous membranes (for example, in the mouth). The bruises mean that bleeding has occurred in small blood vessels under the skin. A person who has ITP also may have bleeding that results in tiny red or purple dots on the skin. These dots, often seen on the lower legs, are called petechiae (peh-TEE-kee-ay). Petechiae may look like a rash.

People with ITP may have nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums when they have dental work done, or other bleeding that’s hard to stop. Women with ITP may have heavy menstrual bleeding.

Bleeding in the brain as a result of ITP is very rare, but can be life threatening if it occurs.

In most cases, the body’s immune system is thought to cause ITP. Normally your immune system helps your body fight off infections and diseases, but if you have ITP, your immune system attacks and destroys its own platelets—for an unknown reason.

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In her case she doesn't get the bruising that is normally associated with ITP.

I already told him about avoiding PUFAs and oxidized cholesterol, etc. but he is going to have his hands full because she is 15 or 16 years old and it's going to be tough imposing dietary restrictions on a young girl of that age.

Any tips for him outside of the dietary recommendations in the essays on the left?

Thanks Hans!

Will