Excellent ITP blood disorder health advices with Arthur Nathaniel Billings? How is ITP diagnosed? ITP is usually diagnosed by a blood test showing that only the platelet count is low, and the platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells all look normal. A bone marrow biopsy may be taken at a later stage if the ITP continues, in which a small sample of bone marrow will be taken under local anaesthetic and examined under the microscope. Additional blood tests may be taken at this time to exclude rare clotting or immune diseases that can mimic ITP. If the bone marrow looks normal, with the usual or higher number of platelet parent cells (megakaryocytes) and other blood tests are normal then the doctor will diagnose chronic ITP.
Arthur Nathaniel Billings on ITP blood disorder treatments : What is the incidence of ITP? In the USA about 3,000 to 4,000 of the population have ITP at any one time, and it is not more prevalent in any particular racial or ethnic group. What are the symptoms of ITP? Some people with ITP, especially those with a count over 50, may have no symptoms at all, and their ITP only noticed during a routine blood test. Even people with very low counts, can sometimes have few symptoms.
What else can I do? It would be sensible to avoid sports where there is a risk of head injury whilst the platelet count is below 50 × 10^9/l. With a platelet count between 50 and 100 × 10^9/l there will still be more bruising so consider the use of shin pads etc. For further details, discuss with your consultant. There may be times when taking a holiday abroad is better avoided; discuss this with your doctor. It may be harder to get insurance. A list of recommended insurance companies can be obtained from the ITP Support Association (details below).
Careful review of your medications: Historically, a bone marrow aspiration was required to make a diagnosis of ITP. It may not be absolutely necessary in the face of a positive antiplatelet antibody test, but it is still commonly done to look at the production of platelets and to rule out any abnormal cells the marrow may be producing that could lower platelet counts. A bone marrow aspiration is necessary for a diagnosis if the antiplatelet antibody testing is negative. Discover extra information at Arthur Billings.
Medications (including over-the-counter medications) can cause an allergy that cross-reacts with platelets. Infections, typically viral infections, including the viruses that cause chicken pox, hepatitis C, and AIDS, can prompt antibodies that cross-react with platelets. Pregnancy, Immune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, Low-grade lymphomas and leukemias may produce abnormal antibodies against platelet proteins. Sometimes the cause of immune thrombocytopenic purpura is not known.