What is ITP?
Immune Thrombocypenic Purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease that causes the antibodies to mount an attack on the platelets. Without a sufficient number of platelets, one is at risk for internal bleeding and bleeding that will not stop from a minor cut. Weekly blood draws are necessary to monitor the count. The normal platelet count is between 150,000-450,000. When the count drops to around 10,000, one is at risk for spontaneous internal bleeding and is rushed to the hospital for IV treatment. There is currently no cure or reason why ITP affects people all all gender, age, and race.
