Treatment options in immune thrombocytopenia

Laura Dubis1, Miranda Collins

  • 1At the time this article was written, Laura Dubis was a student in the PA program at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. She now practices as a hospitalist at Winona Health in Winona, Minn. Miranda Collins is an associate professor in the PA program at Marietta College. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune condition that can cause life-threatening bleeding. ITP may develop idiopathically, after an infection or administration of a medication, or as a comorbid condition. Treatment depends on whether life-threatening, active bleeding is occurring. Although corticosteroids remain a standard of care, new medications offer patients an alternative to splenectomy when other pharmacologic treatments fail.

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