Suggest Treatment For Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Posted on Thu, 9 Jul 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 9 Jul 2015 Answered on

Wed, 5 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have ITP sense 5 years old I'm now 48 years old,about 20 years my platelets went down to the single digits ,steroids were the first option ,had to stop taken them due because of the side effects,went to hospital a few times and took imunegloblin tru iv work for a few months and then platelets go down again. For the last 2 years I was on 75mg daylli of promacta,stop working on me and recently start a treatment of rituximab was stop after the 2 treatment due to severe side effects and now I really don't know what to do my doctor his tell me that I'm running out of options please advise

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Go For Spleenectomy

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking

I read your question and i understand your concern. ITP can be challenging some times. We usually give steroids in pulse therapy dosages and wait and see for 6 months. Rituximab and promacta help but if the digits are still going down the ultimate step is opting for splenectomy.

I would like you to get vaccinated for all encapsulated organisms and go for splenectomy ( Removal of spleen) after two weeks of vaccination. We need to get rid of the organ which breaks the platelets unnecessary. After spleen removal these medications will work better and have better outcome.

I hope it helps. Talk to your hematologist and let them help you in this regard.
Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.

Regards
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar