Treatment Options for ITP

People who have idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)may receive one or more of the following treatment options:

Reduce Platelet Destruction. Some medicines help raise platelet counts by slowing down the rate at which the immune system destroys platelets. These medicines include:

Corticosteroids
Other medicines that affect the immune system, such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, or vinblastine

Thrombopoietin (TPO) Receptor Agonists. With ITP, your body may not make enough platelets, or it may destroy too many platelets. Thrombopoietin receptor agonists raise your platelet count by helping your body make more platelets.

Increasing the number of platelets in your blood can lower your risk for bleeding and bruising.

At the start of treatment with this type of medicine, it can be helpful to know that they:

May help to raise your platelet count even when other treatments have not
Are not corticosteroids
Are available as a tablet you take at home by mouth once a day, or as an injection that must be administered by your doctor

Immune Globulin therapies. These drugs help raise platelet counts. Immune therapies include:

Immune globulin and anti-(Rh) D immunoglobulin. These drugs are given intravenously in the physician's office or a medical facility

Splenectomy. One of the normal functions of the spleen is to remove old platelets from the blood. A splenectomy prevents the spleen from lowering your number of platelets.

This treatment is for patients who do not respond to corticosteroids and other medicines.
Platelet levels return to normal in up to 60% of people who have a splenectomy.

Platelet transfusions. Platelet transfusions may be given when people with ITP have heavy bleeding or are in emergency situations. Platelet transfusions may also be needed to increase platelet counts for a short period of time, such as before surgery. Platelet transfusions are given intravenously. You may need to check into the hospital to have this procedure.

Fibrinolysis inhibitors. These drugs may be used to help control very heavy bleeding from women’s periods and heavy bleeding in the nose, gut and urinary tract.

Talk with your doctor about these treatments and their possible side effects.

Think 30,000: Expert guidelines recommend treatment when your platelet count is below 30,000. If your platelet count is less than 30,000, it's time to talk with your doctor and nurse about treatment. Remember: the lower your platelet count, the greater your risk for bruising and bleeding.