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5 Facts you should know about
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
1
ITP is defined as a low platelet count - <100,000 - with the presence of a generalized petechial rash, bruising, or bleeding in an otherwise healthy patient
2
The chronic form of ITP affects individuals between ages 20-50 years; there is a female/male ratio of 3 to 1, and It is usually not preceded by a viral infection
3
First line therapy: ITP patients with active bleeding require corticosteroids to stop further destruction of platelets - about 60% of patients respond well within two weeks
4
For adults with ITP who are dependent or unresponsive to corticosteroids for 3+ months are considered chronic ITP, guidelines recommend 2nd-line therapies including thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA), rituximab, or splenectomy
5
Fostamatinib, a spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) inhibitor is an option for patients whose disease is refractory to second-line treatments
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