Purpura

 

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Definition/Description
[edit | edit source]

ITP-1.jpg

Purpura is a hemorrhagic condition that occurs when not enough normal platelets are available to plug damaged vessels or prevent leakage from even minor injury to normal capillaries. Purpura is characterized by movement of blood into the surrounding tissue (extravasation), under the skin, and through mucous membranes, producing spontaneous ecchymoses (bruises) and petechiae (small, red patches) on the skin[1]. Purpura measure between 4 and 10 mm (millimeters) in diameter. When purpura spots are less than 4 mm in diameter, they are called petechiae. Purpura spots larger than 1 cm (centimeter) are called ecchymoses[2]. There are many different types of purpura. Their classification depends on the appearance or cause of the condition.

Idiopathic-Thrombocytopenic-Purpura.gif



Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), also known as primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura and autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, is defined as isolated thrombocytopenia with normal bone marrow and in the absence of other causes of thrombocytopenia. ITP has two distinct clinical syndromes, with typical manifestation of an acute condition in children (spontaneous resolution within 2 months) and a chronic condition in adults (lasting longer than 6 months)[3].


Prevalence[edit | edit source]

Frequency

  • The incidence of ITP in adults is approximately 66 cases per 1,000,000 per year
  • An average estimate of the incidence in children is 50 cases per 1,000,000 per year[3].

Age

  • Peak prevalence occurs in adults aged 20-50 years.
  • Peak prevalence occurs in children aged 2-4 years.
  • Approximately 40% of all patients are younger than 10 years[3].

Characteristics/Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]

Physical signs and symptoms include:

Itp1.jpg
  • Easy or excessive bruising (purpura)
  • Superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as a rash of pinpoint-sized reddish-purple spots (petechiae), usually on the lower legs
  • Bleeding from the gums or nose
  • Blood in urine or stools
  • Unusually heavy menstrual flow [4]
  • Non-blanchable lesions [5]

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura can occur in anyone at almost any age, but these factors increase the risk: [4]

  • Your sex. Women are two to three times more likely to develop ITP than men are.
  • Recent viral infection. Many children with ITP develop the disorder after a viral illness, such as mumps, measles, influenza or a respiratory infection.

Image Available from: http://immunethrombocytopenicpurpura.com

Associated Co-morbidities[edit | edit source]

ITP is associated with a considerable number of medical conditions including hematological diseases, dermatological conditions, oral conditions, viral infections (such as Hepatitis C, HIV, measles, and mumps), gastrointestinal, bleeding, and autoimmune disorders. One possible cause of associated signs and symptoms could be due to an adverse drug reaction. However, further research is needed to identify the cause and extent of the association between these conditions and ITP [6][7]

Medications[edit | edit source]

A detailed description of The American Society of Hematology 2011 evidence-based practice guideline for immune thrombocytopenia can be viewed here[7]:

http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/117/16/4190?sso-checked=true

The primary focus of a pharmaceutical approach to the treatment of ITP is to raise the individual’s platelet count. They may also be asked to stop taking medications that impair platelet function, such as aspirin, blood thinners, and ibuprofen [8].

Corticosteroids

The doctor may start with a corticosteroid medication, which can help increase the platelet count by decreasing the activity of the immune system. It usually takes about two to six weeks for their platelet count to return to a safe level. When it does, the doctor will discontinue the drug[8].


Intravenous immunoglobulin

If your purpura is causing severe bleeding, your doctor may give you an intravenous medication called intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). They may also give you IVIG if you need to increase your platelet count rapidly before surgery. This treatment is usually effective in increasing your platelet count, but the effect is usually only in the short term. It can cause side effects such as headache, nausea, and fever [8].


Other drug therapies

The latest drugs used to treat purpura are romiplostim (Nplate) and eltrombopag (Promacta). These medications cause bone marrow to produce more platelets, which reduces the risk of bruising and bleeding. Potential side effects include:

  • headaches
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • joint or muscle pain
  • vomiting
  • increased risk of blood clots
  • acute respiratory distress syndrome


Biologic therapy, such as the drug rituximad (Rituxan), can help decrease the immune system response. It’s mostly used to treat patients with severe thrombocyotopenic purpura and patients for whom corticosteroid treatment isn’t effective. Side effects may include:

  • low blood pressure
  • sore throat
  • rash
  • fever [8]

Diagnostic Tests/Lab Tests/Lab Values[edit | edit source]

Frequently, the diagnosis can be established on the basis of a careful history and physical examination, and a few key laboratory tests. Indicated tests include a complete blood cell count with platelet count, a peripheral blood smear, and prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times [5]

  • A complete blood count. This test checks the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in your blood. In ITP, the red and white blood cell counts are normal, but the platelet count is low.
  • A blood smear. For this test, some of your blood is put on a slide. A microscope is used to look at your platelets and other blood cells.
  • Bone marrow exam. This test may be used to help identify the cause of a low platelet count, though the American Society of Hematology doesn't recommend this test for children with ITP [4][9]

Etiology/Causes[edit | edit source]

Thrombocytopenia can be caused by decreased production or increased destruction of platelets. Historically, ITP was believed to be caused by increased platelet destruction at a rate that exceeded production by a compensating bone marrow. However, new knowledge has questioned this model, providing evidence that platelet production is also decreased in many patients with ITP[7].

In people with ITP, an unknown cause leads antibodies produced by the immune system to attach themselves to the platelets, marking the platelets for destruction. The spleen, which helps the body fight infection, recognizes the antibodies and removes the platelets from your system. The result of this case of mistaken identity is a lower number of circulating platelets than is normal.

A normal platelet count is generally between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter of circulating blood. People with ITP often have platelet counts below 20,000. Because platelets help the blood clot, as their number decreases, your risk of bleeding increases. The greatest risk is when your platelet count falls very low — below 10,000 platelets per microliter. At this point, internal bleeding may occur even without any injury[4]. Older patients have more severe and rare bleeding manifestations, such as GI bleeding and possibly intracranial hemorrhage secondary to co-morbidities such as hypertension[10].

Abd296dd0943bdd3a5eff3780c5634c5.jpg


Image Available from: www.nplate.com

Systemic Involvement[edit | edit source]

ITP directly affects the dermatologic and hematologic systems.  It does not directly have any other systemic involvement.  However, the section above titled "Associated Co-morbidities" includes some of the co-morbidities associated with ITP that may have systemic involvement including the gastrointestinal or endocrine systems.

Medical Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]

Treatments include medications and sometimes a splenectomy to remove the spleen.

See above section titled "Medications".

Splenectomy

If medications aren’t effective in treating your purpura, your doctor may recommend a splenectomy. Removing the spleen is a fast way of increasing your platelet count. This is because the spleen is the main body part responsible for eliminating platelets.

[11]

Physical Therapy Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]

Physical therapists are not able to treat or diagnose idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, but are able to recognize differences in skin pigmentation and can refer the patient to a suitable specialist.

If you are cleared through a physician to treat associated impairments such as general weakness, it is recommended that low-impact activities be performed over high-impact activities. Patients can have increased risk of injury, bruising, and bleeding[8].

Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Other differential diagnoses for ITP include disorders such as:

  • Autoimmune disorders: SLE, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
  • Infections: HIV, HCV, EBV
  • Neoplastic: CLL, lymphoma, large granular lymphocytic leukemia,
  • MDS Drug effect: Heparin, quinidine, sulfa, gold
  • Hypersplenism
  • Isolated thrombocytopenia of pregnancy
  • Congenital (Wiskott-Aldrich, Bernard-Soulier, Fanconi’s anemia, etc)
  • Rare: Pure megakaryocyte aplasia [12]

Case Reports/ Case Studies[edit | edit source]

[13]

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Resources
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Organizations Supporting this Disease [14][15][16][17][18][19]

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA)
22100 Gratiot Avenue Eastpointe
East Detroit, MI 48201-2227
Toll-free: 800-598-4668
Telephone: 586-776-3900
Fax: 586-776-3903
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.aarda.org/

ITP Foundation
30 Old Kings Hwy South, Suite 275
Darien, CT 06820
Telephone: 203-655-6954
Fax: 203-548-9182
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.itpfoundation.org


National Blood Clot Alliance
8321 Old Courthouse Road
Suite 255
Vienna, VA 22182
Toll-free: 877-466-2568
Telephone: 703-935-8845
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://stoptheclot.org/


Platelet Disorder Support Association
8751 Brecksville Road
Suite 150
Cleveland, OH 44141
Toll-free: 87-PLATELET (1-877-528-3538)
Telephone: 440-746-9003
Fax: 844-270-1277
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.pdsa.org/


Vascular Cures
555 Price Avenue
Suite 180
Redwood City, CA 94063
Telephone: 650.368.6022
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.vasculardisease.org/

Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]

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References[edit | edit source]

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  1. Goodman CC, Fuller KS. Pathology: Implications for the Physical Therapist. 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders; 2015.
  2. MedlinePlus medical encyclopedia [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): A.D.A.M., Inc.; c2017. Purpura; [updated 2015 April 14]; [1screen] Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003232.htm
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Medscape [Internet]. WebMD LLC; 1994. Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura; 2016 July 22. [cited 2017 Mar 27]; [about 8 screens]. Available from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/779545-overview#a6
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER); 1998. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) [Internet]. 2016 April 23. [cited 2017Mar27]. [about 8 screens]. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/idiopathic-thrombocytopenic-purpura/home/ovc-20201208
  5. 5.0 5.1 Leung AKC, Chan KW. Evaluating the Child with Purpura [Internet]. American Family Physician; 2001 Aug 01 [cited 2017 Mar 27]; 64(3): 419-428. Available from: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0801/p419.html#afp20010801p419-b9
  6. Feudjo-Tepie MA, Le Roux G, Beach KJ, Bennett D, and Robinson NJ. Comorbidities of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A Population-Based Study. Advances in Hematology [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2017 March 27]; 2009. Available from: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ah/2009/963506/ DOI:10.1155/2009/963506
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Neunert C, Lim W, Cohen A, Solberg L, Crowther M. The American Society of Hematology 2011 evidence-based practice guideline for immune thrombocytopenia. BLOOD [Internet]. 2011 April 21 [cited 2017 March 27]; 117(16): 4190-4207. Available from: http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/bloodjournal/117/16/4190.full.pdf
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Healthline [Internet]. Healthline Media; 2005. Purpura; 2016 June 30. [cited 2017 Mar 27]; [about 6 screens]. Available from: http://www.healthline.com/health/purpura?s_con_rec=false&r=0#Overview1
  9. NHLBI [Internet]. National Institutes of Health; How is Immune Thrombocytopenia Diagnosed?; 2012 March 14. [cited 2017 March 27]; [1 screen]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/itp/diagnosis
  10. Kayal L, Jayachandran S, Singh K. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Contemp Clin Dent [serial online] 2014 [cited 2017 Mar 27];5:410-4. Available from: http://www.contempclindent.org/text.asp?2014/5/3/410/137976
  11. Platelet Disorder Support Association. What are the Challenges of Treating and Managing ITP? [web streaming video].Youtube, 2008 December 17 [cited 2017 March 27]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w82Tivwc1dE
  12. University of California San Francisco Department of Medicine [Internet]. San Francisco: The Regents of the University of California; 2017. Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura; 2003 December [2017 March 27]; [2 pages]. Available from: https://medicine.ucsf.edu/education/resed/Chiefs_cover_sheets/itp_update.pdf
  13. Mayo Clinic. Jude’s Story: A Toddlers Battle with ITP [web streaming video]. Youtube, 2014 September 24 [cited 2017 March 27]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm6-rU_Hunk
  14. PDSA. Platelet Disorder Support Association for People with ITP [Internet]. Cleveland, OH. Platelet Disorder Support Association; 1997. [updated 2017]. Available from https://www.pdsa.org
  15. ITP Foundation. ITP Foundation Helping Children with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, a Rare Bleeding Disorder [Internet]. ITP Foundation; 2014 [cited 2017 March 27]. Available from: www.itpfoundation.org
  16. AARDA [Internet]. American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc. Eastpointe, MI. American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc. 2004 [updated 2017]. Available from: https://www.aarda.org
  17. National Blood Clot Alliance. Stop the Clot [Internet]. Vienna, VA: [cited 2017 March 27] Available from: https://www.stoptheclot.org
  18. Vascular Cures. Vascular Disease [Internet]. Redwood City, CA: Vascular Cures; [updated 2017; cited 2017 March 27]. Available from: http://www.vasculardisease.org
  19. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) [Internet]. Gaithersburg, MD: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; [cited 2017 March 27]; [screen 6]. Available from: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/5194/idiopathic-thrombocytopenic-purpura