What Is I.T.P?

What Is ITP(Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura)?
by Dr. Ba Hoang

The "ITP" term in our opinion encompasses a group of diseases. It is not a simple autoimmune disorder in the immune system that, for some unknown reason, attacks the platelets and causes the decrease of the platelet count and bleeding symptoms. Several groups have now determined that in a majority of adults and children with ITP there is a combination of inherited or acquired platelet quality problems and immune dysfunction (mainly immunodeficiency) as the underlying cause. There are a number of factors: bacterial/viral infections, hormonal imbalances, physical/emotional stresses, nutritional deficiencies, digestive disorders, chronic and acute chemical intoxications. There is a small group of people who have a low platelet count due to the direct damaging effect of infection or toxins; however, for the majority of people with ITP, there are rarely any apparent serious health conditions. The body does have its own capability of limiting the effects of a low platelet count and can prevent severe bleeding symptoms. Left untreated, we believe that up to 90% of children and more than 40% of adults with ITP symptoms (onset or relapses) can achieve a clinical and laboratory remission in 6 weeks to 6 months. It is possible to live a relatively normal quality of life with lower than 50K platelets and moderate symptoms when clinical and laboratory remission is not achieved.

Our literature, research and experience in the last 10 years has indicated that the application of new, aggressive (invasive) immunosuppressive therapies causes ITP to become a more severe disorder with relapses. This only brings on a need for continued therapy, hospitalization, splenectomy and a lower chance for people to achieve natural remission or stabilization of the disease and/or relapsing episodes.

Dr. Shaw on Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a common hematologic disorder manifested by immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. The disorder is usually chronic. Although many eventually attain safe platelet counts off treatment, a subset of patients has severe disease refractory to all treatment modalities, which is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality.

ITP presents most commonly in women during the second and third decades of life, although the disorder can occur in either sex and at any age. Patients typically present with petechiae or purpura that develop over several days, accompanied by platelet counts of 1000–20,000/µl. Severe cutaneous bleeding, epistaxis, gingival bleeding, hematuria, or menorrhagia may develop at platelet counts below 10,000/µl.

Diagnostic:
The diagnosis of primary ITP remains one of exclusion. A careful history is important to exclude drugs that can cause thrombocytopenia, familial thrombocytopenia, post-transfusion purpura, or disorders associated with secondary ITP. The physical examination shows only evidence of bleeding. The presence of adenopathy or splenomegaly suggests another diagnosis. Blood counts are normal except for the platelet count unless there has been significant bleeding or immune hemolysis.

Current Treatments:
The goal of treatment is to raise the platelet count into a safe range (>50,000/ml).

Emergency treatment is given in Hospitals for extremely low platelet counts (5000–10,000/µl) or for active bleeding. Treatment is initiated immediately with intravenous IgG (IVIG) and/or intravenous methylprednisolone until the platelet count exceeds 50,000/µl.

For most of patients, initial treatment is usually started with prednisone although some physicians prefer periodic anti-D (antibody against erythrocyte RhD antigen) or pulsed dexamethasone. Treatment of refractory patients usually proceeds in the order shown; experimental therapy can be given at any time, depending on the toxicity of the treatment relative to that of the standard therapies. Response rates of 50%–90% are reported depending on the intensity and duration of therapy, but only 20%–30% of patients enter a stable remission once a course of steroids has been completed.

Splenectomy remains the mainstay of subsequent therapy in adults. Approximately 75%–85% of patients attain an initial hemostatic response after splenectomy; of these, 25%–40% will relapse within 5–10 y.

About 40%–50% of ITP patients are characterized as refractory, either because they do not respond to
splenectomy or because they relapse after an initial response and require additional treatment. Refractory patients often respond slowly to subsequent treatment, have significant morbidity due to ITP and its therapy, and have a mortality rate of 8%–16%.

BENEFITS OF USING ITP Kit.

With ITP Kit, you can enjoy 100% natural supplements, which help people to achieve a more balanced and
healthier body. The healthy and balanced body will improve the immune function and platelet quality and
endothelian integrity, thus may prevent and stop excessive bleeding symptoms. Our herbs may help the
body's own mechanisms to restructure and heal itself from destroying platelets.

In contrast to steroid and other therapies for ITP, the selected herbs do not have harmful negative side
effects and they do not interact with other things. When people stop taking the herbs there is no major
rebound reaction and the body can remain stable.

Our nutritional supplements are vigorously tested for concentration and purity. Most are made in a
pharmaceutical house that guarantees and tests for bacteria pesticides, heavy metals, and etc.