Treatments for Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Treatment list for Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.
- Watchful waiting - some conditions are mild and require no treatments
- Corticosteroids
- Prednisone
- Immune globulin infusions
- Surgical spleen removal
- Vincristine
- Azathioprine (Imuran)
- Danazol
- Cyclophosphamide
- Cyclosporine
- Platelet transfusions - uncommon and rarely useful; used for internal bleeding or surgery preparation.
- Lifestyle changes - to avoid bruising and bleeding in some patients
- Protective gear
- Avoid contact sports
Treatments of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura discussion: If the doctor thinks a drug is the cause of the thrombocytopenia, standard treatment involves discontinuing the drug's use. Infection, if present, is treated vigorously since control of the infection may result in a return of the platelet count to normal.
The treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is determined by the severity of the symptoms. In some cases, no therapy is needed. In most cases, drugs that alter the immune system's attack on the platelet are prescribed. These include corticosteroids (i.e., prednisone) and/or intravenous infusions of immune globulin. Another treatment that usually results in an increased number of platelet is removal of the spleen, the organ that destroys antibody-coated platelet. Other drugs such as vincristine, azathioprine (Imuran), Danazol, cyclophosphamide, and cyclosporine are prescribed for patients only in the severe case where other treatments have not shown benefit since these drugs have potentially harmful side effects.
Except in certain situations, (e.g., internal bleeding and preparation
for surgery), platelet transfusions usually are not beneficial and,
therefore, are seldom performed. Because all therapies can have risks, it
is important that overtreatment (treatment based solely on platelet counts
and not on symptoms) be avoided. In some instances lifestyle adjustments
may be helpful for prevention of bleeding due to injury. These would
include use of protective gear such as helmets and avoidance of contact
sports in symptomatic patients or when platelet counts are less than
50,000. Otherwise, patients usually can carry on normal activities, but
final decisions about activity should be made in consultation with the
patient's hematologist.
1
Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP): NIDDK
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