Immune thrombocytopenia (autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura)

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), formerly known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, is an immune-mediated disorder that is most often autoimmune, in which the immune system destroys platelets, the blood cells that help form clots and stop bleeding. The resulting low platelet count can lead to easy bruising, prolonged bleeding, or tiny purple or red spots on the skin called petechiae. Although ITP often resolves on its own in children, it is more likely to become a chronic condition in adults.

Easy or excessive bruising, particularly from the gums or nose, superficial bleeding into the skin on the lower legs (appears as petechiae – pinpoint, round spots that appear on the skin), blood in urine, stools, or vomit, unusually heavy menstrual flow, purple bruises, and frequent nosebleeds.

Systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis C, type 1 diabetes, renal failure, lymphoma, and leukemia.

ITP is two to three times more common in females than in males, occurring more often in younger females. Sometimes the reason that ITP develops is unknown, but some of the conditions that may be triggers are infections (such as HIV, hepatitis, mumps, or flu), medications that cause an allergy that cross-reacts with platelets, pregnancy, autoimmune diseases (such as SLE or rheumatoid arthritis, or antiphospholipid syndrome), and low-grade lymphomas and leukemias.