Splenectomy for Idiopathic Thrombocytic Purpura (ITP)

What is idiopathic Thrombocytic purpura?

ITP
Source: www.emedicine.medscape.com

Idiopathic thrombocytic purpura or Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) refers to reduced number of platelets in the blood circulation of which no apparent exogenous etiologic factors are known.
The most common acute ITP is most common in children while chronic ITP in the adults.

What is splenectomy for ITP?

Splenectomy for ITP may be indicated along with other idiopathic thrombocytic purpura treatment strategies such as good rest, avoiding trauma and drugs, platelet transfusion and steroid therapy. Splenectomy for ITP offers effective rate of 70-80% of the cases.

Most of the medical students, when they are asked about the indications of splenectomy in ITP, cannot tell the correct answer. So, we decided to write the indications of splenectomy in idiopathic thrombocytic purpura.

What are the indications of splenectomy for ITP?

• The patients sustaining severe thrombocytopenia (less than 10,000 platelets) who fail to respond steroid therapy up to six weeks.
• Relapse of the disease during steroid therapy for ITP.
• Patients having platelet count of less than 30,000/ul up to three months of regular treatment of ITP.

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Keywords: Idiopathic thrombocytic purpura, Immune thrombocytopenic purpura, ITP,
idiopathic thrombocytic purpura treatment, ITP children, steroid therapy