Autoimmune diseases that sometimes lead to a low platelet count or can occur alongside ITP as a co-existing separate autoimmune condition:
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune condition and the leading cause of hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid. ITP may be difficult to treat when associated with thyroid autoimmune disorders, such as Hashimoto’s. In such cases, treating the underlying thyroid disorder may significantly improve platelet count and can either cause remission of disease or improve response to standard ITP therapy.
Resources for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis include:
- https://hmfoa.org/
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00277-020-04343-5
- https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/134/Supplement_1/4900/428730/A-Rare-Presentation-of-Acute-Immune
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6289553/#:~:text=In%20unadjusted%20analyses%2C%20an%20increase,had%20no%20effect%20on%20MPV
Celiac (Coeliac) Disease
Celiac (coeliac) disease, also known as gluten intolerance, is an autoimmune disease of the small bowel caused by a cross-reaction to the gluten in wheat, barley, rye and similar grains.
Resources for celiac disease include:
- https://celiac.org/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ccr3.5197?af=R#ccr35197-bib-0014
- https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/55/7/373
- https://ww.hindawi.com/journals/crihem/2017/6341321/
Evans Syndrome
Evans syndrome is the combination of autoimmune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and autoimmune destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia).
Resources for Evans syndrome include:
Antiphospholpid syndrome (APS)
Antiphospholip antibodies, those that attack particular cell membranes, can lead to blood clots in the veins and arteries. From 20 to 70 percent of people diagnosed with ITP also have APS, and approximately 25 percent of people with APS develop thrombocytopenia. Due to this, it is important to test for both anticardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant.
Resources for APS include:
- http://apsfa.org/
- https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/5824/antiphospholipid-syndrome
- https://ashpublications.org/hematology/article/2009/1/233/19821/Antiphospholipid-antibody-syndrome
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Approximately 25% of patients with SLE, commonly called Lupus, develop thrombocytopenia for a wide variety of reasons related to the pathology of the disease.
Resources for SLE include:
- https://www.lupus.org/
- https://www.lupus.org/resources
- https://www.lupusresearch.org/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20433308/
Thyroid (non-Hashimoto’s) disease
Both an over-functioning thyroid gland and an under-functioning thyroid gland have been associated with thrombocytopenia. Thyroid problems are more prevalent in people diagnosed with ITP than the general population. Sometimes restoring normal thyroid level increases the platelet count. It is important to check for thyroid levels and anti-thyroid antibodies.
Resources for thyroid disease include:
- Thyroid disease in patients with immune thrombocytopenia
- Thyroid disease in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia: a cohort study
- https://www.thyroid.org/
