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Why do patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) experience lower bleeding events despite thrombocytopenia?
Renee Boulware1, Majed A Refaai2
1Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
Abstract:
Immune thrombocytopenia is an autoimmune condition characterized by an isolated thrombocytopenia. Despite the low platelet levels, severe bleeding episodes are relatively rare suggesting that patients with ITP may have a protective factor against bleeding. Platelet microparticles (PMP) are thought to play a role in clot formation and some studies have demonstrated higher levels of circulating PMP in patients with ITP. This article provides a review of the epidemiology, mechanism, clinical presentation, management, and prognosis of ITP as well as a review of the literature and discussion regarding PMP and bleeding risk in ITP patients.
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