What is ITP and How Can Infusion Therapy Help?
When you sustain a cut or bruise, your body immediately sends platelets to the wounded area. Platelets are small cells that circulate in our bloodstream and bind together when they detect damage to a blood vessel. Eventually, the platelets will cause the wound to stop bleeding.
Immune thrombocytopenia, or ITP, is an autoimmune disorder that affects approximately 60,000 – 100,000 people in the U.S. People who have ITP do not have enough platelets in their blood. This could occur because their body is destroying healthy platelets or their body is not producing enough platelets on their own. A low number of platelets can lead to easy bruising or excessive and prolonged bleeding.
What causes ITP?
There are two forms of ITP. Acute ITP is the most common form and typically occurs in children. It is usually evident after the body has fought off a virus or infection. Acute ITP will resolve within a few weeks and does not require treatment.
Chronic ITP can occur at any age, but usually appears in adults. The condition can last for months or a lifetime. It could be brought about by medication, infection, pregnancy, immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, or certain types of cancer. Sometimes there is no known reason for developing the disease.
Symptoms of ITP
Symptoms of ITP will vary from person to person. Initially, you may notice an increase in wounds that bleed, the bleeding is more intense, or it becomes difficult to get the wound to stop bleeding. Other symptoms of ITP include:
The appearance of large bruises with no known injury.
A rash of tiny red dots of blood under the skin.
Nosebleeds.
Bleeding in the mouth or around the gumline.
Heavy menstrual periods.
Traces of blood in vomit, urine, or stool.
What happens if ITP is left untreated?
In addition to excessive blood loss, untreated ITP can also lead to anemia, which can make a person feel overly tired and fatigued. A person with ITP may also be more susceptible to infection. Serious cases can lead to internal bleeding and/or brain hemorrhaging.
How is ITP treated?
Your doctor will order a blood test to check platelet levels. He or she will then try to rule out any underlying illness or medication that could be causing low platelet levels. Most patients with mild ITP will only require monitoring and regular platelet checks. However, if the condition worsens, treatment may be required. Treatments may include:
Corticosteroids – these temporarily suppress the body's immune system, so it stops destroying platelets. A corticosteroid infusion may be prescribed if the patient does not respond to oral steroids.
Immune globulin (IVIg) – Immunoglobulin or immune globulin provides your body with donor antibodies so it can fight infections. It is harvested from the plasma of healthy donors. When a patient requires a lot of immunoglobulin, releasing it slowly via an infusion is preferred over an injection.
What can I expect during my infusion?
Corticosteroid infusions are intended for short term use. The patient may require only one infusion, or a few infusions administered over a short period of time. IVIg infusions may need to be administered regularly every 3-4 weeks, depending on the severity of the patient’s condition.
Our spa-like suites provide a comfortable, private area for each patient to receive their infusion. Some infusions may take one to a few hours to administer. During that time, you can read, watch TV or just relax. For recurring infusion treatments, talk to your doctor about receiving treatments at home. Whether you receive your infusion treatment at home or in our clinic, each infusion is administered by a specially trained infusion nurse who will work closely with your healthcare provider and monitor your progress throughout the entire treatment.
Health Care Medical Infusion Specialties provides infusion services, durable medical equipment and HyVIta infusions to the entire state of Mississippi.