List all medications, vitamins and supplements that you're taking, including doses.List key personal information, including major stresses, life changes, and recent illnesses or medical procedures, such as a blood transfusion.List any symptoms you're experiencing, including those that seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.Here are some steps you can take to get ready for your appointment: He or she may also refer you to a specialist in blood diseases (hematologist). To diagnose immune thrombocytopenia, your doctor is likely to order further blood tests that require drawing a small amount of blood from a vein in an arm. Nonprescription drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can impair platelet function.īecause a low platelet count may not cause symptoms, the problem is often discovered when you have a blood test for another reason. Use caution with over-the-counter medications.Infections can be more serious in people without spleens. If you've had your spleen removed, be alert for any signs of infection, including fever, and seek prompt treatment. Talk to your doctor about what activities are safe for you. Depending on your risk of bleeding, head impacts during sports like boxing, martial arts and football could cause bleeding in your brain. If you have immune thrombocytopenia, try to: Steroids and immune globulin may also be given through a tube in a vein.Įxplore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Emergency care usually includes transfusions of platelet concentrates. Emergency treatmentĪlthough rare, severe bleeding can occur with ITP.
Living without a spleen permanently increases your susceptibility to infection. This quickly eliminates the main source of platelet destruction in your body and improves your platelet count, though it doesn't work for everyone. If your condition is severe or persists despite initial drug treatment, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove your spleen. But this drug also can reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations, which may be needed if you later choose surgery to remove your spleen. Rituximab (Rituxan, Truxima) helps increase your platelet count by reducing the immune system response that's damaging your platelets. These types of drugs can increase your risk of blood clots. Medications such as romiplostim (Nplate) and eltrombopag (Promacta) help your bone marrow produce more platelets. The effect usually wears off in a couple of weeks. This drug may also be used if you have critical bleeding or need to quickly increase your blood count before surgery. If corticosteroids don't help, your doctor may give you an injection of immune globulin. Long-term use of these medications isn't recommended because they can increase your risk of infections, high blood sugar and osteoporosis. Once your platelet count is back to a safe level, you can gradually discontinue taking the drug under the direction of your doctor. Your doctor will likely start you on an oral corticosteroid, such as prednisone.
Examples include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and ginkgo biloba. Your doctor will talk with you about over-the-counter medications or supplements you take and whether you need to stop using any that might inhibit platelet function. Some people find that the side effects of treatment are more burdensome than the effects of the disease itself. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of your treatment options. Treatment may include a number of approaches, such as medications to boost your platelet count or surgery to remove your spleen (splenectomy). Most adults with ITP will eventually need treatment, as the condition often becomes severe or long term (chronic). Children usually improve without treatment. People with mild immune thrombocytopenia may need nothing more than regular monitoring and platelet checks.
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