CCBD: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

One of the hematologic disorders most frequently encountered in children is immune (or idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Its management is highly controversial. A major aim of the program at Children's Medical Center Dallas is to conduct research in order to better understand how to treat children with ITP.

Immune (or idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a condition characterized by bleeding resulting from a low platelet count due to increased destruction of platelets by the body. "Idiopathic" is a medical term indicating that we do not know the cause of the illness.

Thrombocytopenia is a term meaning a low platelet count. Purpura means bruising. Therefore, ITP is an illness of unknown cause characterized by bruising and other bleeding resulting from a low platelet count. There are two forms of ITP, acute ITP (in which the disease lasts for less than six months) and chronic ITP (where the condition continues for more than six months and often for many years).

The ITP Web site of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's Medical Center Dallas describes our approach to the diagnosis and management of ITP and provides patient education materials and a description of clinical research accomplishments.