About ITP

More About ITP

ITP is characterized more by its description than the specific properties of the disease. It is the diagnosis when platelets are abnormally low and other diseases that could cause low platelets have been ruled out. Usually there is the presence of antiplatelet antibodies indicating that the body has decided to consider the platelets foreign. It attacks them with an antibody as it would bacteria. The body then does what it is programmed to do with bacteria: eliminate them. This is done in the spleen or liver.
ITP can present itself with small purple spots called petechiae in the mouth and legs, nose bleeds, and bleeding gums during normal dental care. Some people develop bruises on their arms and legs with no provocation. It is often accompanied by fatigue and sometimes depression.

There are many types of ITP. ITP in children is not the same as adult ITP. Children have a much greater chance of recovering with little or no intervention. Adolescent ITP has more of the characteristics of adult ITP.

While most cases of ITP are controlled, it can be fatal in a small percentage of ITP patients.
Extensive information about the nature of ITP is currently available on the web. Our aim in this section is to summarize or enhance rather than duplicate what others have defined . Below are other sites with general ITP information.

Related Sites

ITP

Health on the Net

Related Organizations

The ITP Society of the Children’s Blood Foundation	The ITP Support Association
333 E. 38th Street Room 830, New York, NY 10016 1-800-ITP-7010	'Synehurste' Kimbolton Road Bolnhurst, Beds. MK442EW UK General inquiries: shirley@itpsupport.org.uk Medical inquiries: Deborah.Kenny@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk www.itpsupport.org.uk http://ukitpregistry.com/phpBB2/index.php

The ITP Foundation	ITP Association
30 Old Kings Hwy South - Suite 275 Darien, CT 06820 t. (203) 655-6954, f. (203) 548-9182 itpf@itpfoundation.org	45/8 Avraham Keren Street Kfar Saba, 44208 Israel (972) -9--7657950 evi001@bezeqint.net

The ITP group of the Swedish Hemophelia Society	The Swedish Hemophilia Society
contact person: Eva Appelgren address: Gyllenstjärnasväg 5 A SE-371 40 Karlskrona Sweden phone: +46 455 15595 (home)	Box 55507 SE-10204 Stockholm Sweden phone: +46 8 661 94 55 info@fbis.se

ITP Group of the Dutch Haemophilia Association	National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
www.itp-pv.nl	NORD - 100 Rt. 37 P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-8923 orphan@rarediseases.org

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association	Morbus-Werlhof-Selbsthilfegruppe
22100 Gratiot Ave East Detroit, MI 48021 www.aarda.org	Contact: Martina Gobet Am Stockert 8 D-56316 Raubach, Germany Phone: +49 26 84 95 95 10 Fax: +49 26 84 95 94 99 Email: info@morbus-werlhof.de Speaking English, French and German !!! http://www.morbus-werlhof.de/