LOW PLATELETS COUNT | IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA [ITP] HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT AND HOMEOPATH

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LOW PLATELETS COUNT | IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA [ITP] HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT AND HOMEOPATH

Posted On : Apr-23-2011 | seen (4137) times | Article Word Count : 1392 |

Purpure Idiopathic thrombocytopenic (ITP) is the condition of having a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) of no known cause (idiopathic). As most causes appear to be related to antibodies against platelets, it is also known as immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Although most cases are asymptomatic, very low platelet counts can lead to a bleeding diathesis and purpura.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA
ITP patients suffer from bruising pain
petechiae, nosebleeds and bleeding gums
may occur if the platelet count is below 20,000
Subarachnoid, intracerebral hemorrhage or other internal bleeding are very serious possible complications of this disease. Fortunately, these are unlikely in patients with the platelets count above 20,000.
Heavy menstrual bleeding in women.
Blood in urine and Stool.

DIAGNOSIS FOR IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA
The diagnosis of ITP is one of exclusion. First, one has to make sure that there are no other blood abnormalities except for low platelet count and no physical signs except for signs of bleeding. Then, the secondary causes (usually 5-10% of suspected ITP cases) should be excluded. Secondary causes could be leukemia, medications (e.g. quinine, heparin), lupus erythematosus, cirrhosis, HIV, hepatitis C, congenital causes, antiphospholipid syndrome, von Willebrand factor deficiency and others.[6][7] In approximately 1% of cases autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytic purpura coexist, which is a condition called Evans syndrome.[6]
Despite the destruction of platelets by splenic macrophages, the spleen is normally not enlarged. In fact, an enlarged spleen should lead a clinician to investigate other possible causes for the thrombocytopenia.
Bleeding time is prolonged in ITP patients; however, the use of bleeding time in diagnosis is discouraged by the American Society of Hematology practice guidelines.[11] For example the BMJ review of the basics of hematology states: “The bleeding time may or may not be prolonged in congenital or acquired platelet dysfunction, and therefore a normal bleeding time does not exclude these conditions.”[12]
A bone marrow examination may be performed on patients over the age of 60 and people who do not respond to treatment, or when the diagnosis is in doubt.[6] On examination of the bone marrow, an increase in the production of megakaryotes is seen and can help in determining if it’s ITP. The blood analysis for the antiplatelet antibodies is a matter of clinician’s preference, as there is a disagreement whether the 80% specificity of this test is sufficient.[6]
TREATMENT OF IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA
Steroids/IVIG
Platelet count below 20,000 is an indication for treatment; the patients with 20,000–50,000 platelets/μL are considered on a case by case basis, and there is generally no need to treat the patients with above 50,000 platelets/μL.[6] Hospitalization is recommended in the cases of significant internal or mucocutaneous bleeding. The treatment begins with intravenous steroids (methylprednisolone or prednisone), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or their combination and sometimes platelet infusions in order to raise the count quickly. After the platelet count stabilized and in the less severe cases oral prednisone (1–2 mg/kg) is used. Most cases respond during the first week of treatment. After several weeks of prednisone therapy, the dose is gradually reduced. However, 60–90% of patients relapse after the dose decreased below 0.25 mg/kg and stopped.[6][5]
Splenectomy
Splenectomy (removal of the spleen) is sometimes undertaken, as platelets targeted for destruction will often meet their fate in the spleen. Splenectomy is said to be successful in 60 to 65 percent of cases, although it is less successful in older people.[13]
Anti-D
A relatively new strategy is treatment with anti-D, but the patient must be Rh+. This treatment (with products such as Rhophylac and RhoGAM) is normally administered to Rh- women during pregnancy and after the birth of an Rh+ baby to prevent sensitization to the Rh factor. Anti-D is not recommended for post-splenectomy patients.[14]
Steroid-sparing agents
Immunosuppresants like mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine are becoming more popular for their effectiveness. Rituximab has also been used successfully for some patients. [15][16]
Extreme cases (very rare, especially rare in children) may require vincristine, a chemotherapy agent, to stop the immune system from destroying platelets.
Intravenous immunoglobulin, while sometimes effective, is expensive and the improvement is temporary (generally lasting less than a month). However, in the case of a pre-splenectomy ITP patient with dangerously low platelet counts, and a poor response to other treatments, IVIg treatment can increase platelet counts, making the splenectomy operation less dangerous. It is also commonly used as a long-term (though monthly) treatment.
Platelet transfusion
Platelet transfusion is not normally recommended and is usually unsuccessful in raising a patient’s platelet count. This is because the underlying autoimmune mechanism that destroyed the patient’s platelets to begin with will also destroy donor platelets. An exception to this rule is when a patient is bleeding profusely, when transfusion of platelets can quickly form a platelet plug to stop bleeding.
H. pylori eradication
Researchers in Japan (including Ryugo Sato, Oita University) and Italy (including Massimo Franchini, University of Verona) have found a possible connection between H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) infection and ITP. Some patients given antibiotic treatment to eradicate the bacterial infection have had their platelet count increase dramatically.
HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT FOR IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA
Keywords: homeopathy, homeopathic, treatment, cure, remedy, remedies, medicine
Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution, family history, presenting symptoms, underlying pathology, possible causative factors etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’. The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease is not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness are also looked for. No a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition. The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology is not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can be greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.
The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy. To study any of the following remedies in more detail, please visit the Materia Medica section at Hpathy.com.
None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice and guidance.
HOMEOPATHY REMEDIES FOR IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA :
Acon., arn., ars., bapt., bell., bry., carb-v., chin-s., chlor., crot-h., ham., jug-r., kali-i., lach., merc., ph-ac., phos., rhus-t., sal-ac., sec., sul-ac., sulfon., ter., verat-v.
SYNONYMS
ITP knows many synonyms, but idiopathic or immunological thrombocytopenic purpura are the most common names. There’s also an eponym, Werlhof’s disease,[22] but this is used infrequently.
Other synonyms include: essential thrombocytopenia, haemogenia, haemogenic syndrome, haemorrhagic purpura, idiopathic thrombopenic purpura, morbus haemorrhagicus maculosus, morbus maculosis haemorrhagicus, morbus maculosus werlhofii, peliosis werlhofi, primary splenic thrombocytopenia, primary thrombocytopenia, primary thrombocytopenic purpura, purpura haemorrhagica, purpura thrombocytopenica, purpura werlhofii, splenic thrombocytopenic purpura, thrombocytolytic purpura.
REFERENCES
1. ^ a bWatts RG (2004). “Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a 10-year natural history study at the children’s hospital of alabama”. Clinical pediatrics 43 (8): 691–702. doi:10.1177/000992280404300802. PMID 15494875.
2. ^Treutiger I, Rajantie J, Zeller B, Henter JI, Elinder G, Rosthøj S (2007). “Does treatment of newly diagnosed idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura reduce morbidity?”. Arch. Dis. Child. 92 (8): 704–7. doi:10.1136/adc.2006.098442. PMID 17460024.
3. ^Ou CY, Hsieh KS, Chiou YH, Chang YH, Ger LP (2006). “A comparative study of initial use of intravenous immunoglobulin and prednisolone treatments in childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpur”. Acta paediatrica Taiwanica = Taiwan er ke yi xue hui za zhi 47 (5): 226–31. PMID 17352309.
4. ^Cines DB, Blanchette VS (2002). “Immune thrombocytopenic purpura”. N. Engl. J. Med. 346 (13): 995–1008. doi:10.1056/NEJMra010501. PMID 11919310.

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<h1>LOW PLATELETS COUNT | IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA [ITP] HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT AND HOMEOPATH</h1><strong> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Dr Harhad raval MD [Homeopathy ].aspx'>Dr Harhad raval MD [Homeopathy ]</a></strong><br /><p>Purpure Idiopathic thrombocytopenic (ITP) is the condition of having a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) of no known cause (idiopathic). As most causes appear to be related to antibodies against platelets, it is also known as immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Although most cases are asymptomatic, very low platelet counts can lead to a bleeding diathesis and purpura.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA
ITP patients suffer from bruising pain
 petechiae, nosebleeds and bleeding gums
 may occur if the platelet count is below 20,000
Subarachnoid, intracerebral hemorrhage or other internal bleeding are very serious possible complications of this disease. Fortunately, these are unlikely in patients with the platelets count above 20,000.
Heavy menstrual bleeding in women. 
Blood in urine and Stool.

DIAGNOSIS FOR IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA
The diagnosis of ITP is one of exclusion. First, one has to make sure that there are no other blood abnormalities except for low platelet count and no physical signs except for signs of bleeding. Then, the secondary causes (usually 5-10% of suspected ITP cases) should be excluded. Secondary causes could be leukemia, medications (e.g. quinine, heparin), lupus erythematosus, cirrhosis, HIV, hepatitis C, congenital causes, antiphospholipid syndrome, von Willebrand factor deficiency and others.[6][7] In approximately 1% of cases autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytic purpura coexist, which is a condition called Evans syndrome.[6]
Despite the destruction of platelets by splenic macrophages, the spleen is normally not enlarged. In fact, an enlarged spleen should lead a clinician to investigate other possible causes for the thrombocytopenia.
Bleeding time is prolonged in ITP patients; however, the use of bleeding time in diagnosis is discouraged by the American Society of Hematology practice guidelines.[11] For example the BMJ review of the basics of hematology states: “The bleeding time may or may not be prolonged in congenital or acquired platelet dysfunction, and therefore a normal bleeding time does not exclude these conditions.”[12]
A bone marrow examination may be performed on patients over the age of 60 and people who do not respond to treatment, or when the diagnosis is in doubt.[6] On examination of the bone marrow, an increase in the production of megakaryotes is seen and can help in determining if it’s ITP. The blood analysis for the antiplatelet antibodies is a matter of clinician’s preference, as there is a disagreement whether the 80% specificity of this test is sufficient.[6]
TREATMENT OF IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA
Steroids/IVIG
Platelet count below 20,000 is an indication for treatment; the patients with 20,000–50,000 platelets/μL are considered on a case by case basis, and there is generally no need to treat the patients with above 50,000 platelets/μL.[6] Hospitalization is recommended in the cases of significant internal or mucocutaneous bleeding. The treatment begins with intravenous steroids (methylprednisolone or prednisone), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or their combination and sometimes platelet infusions in order to raise the count quickly. After the platelet count stabilized and in the less severe cases oral prednisone (1–2 mg/kg) is used. Most cases respond during the first week of treatment. After several weeks of prednisone therapy, the dose is gradually reduced. However, 60–90% of patients relapse after the dose decreased below 0.25 mg/kg and stopped.[6][5]
Splenectomy
Splenectomy (removal of the spleen) is sometimes undertaken, as platelets targeted for destruction will often meet their fate in the spleen. Splenectomy is said to be successful in 60 to 65 percent of cases, although it is less successful in older people.[13]
Anti-D
A relatively new strategy is treatment with anti-D, but the patient must be Rh+. This treatment (with products such as Rhophylac and RhoGAM) is normally administered to Rh- women during pregnancy and after the birth of an Rh+ baby to prevent sensitization to the Rh factor. Anti-D is not recommended for post-splenectomy patients.[14]
Steroid-sparing agents
Immunosuppresants like mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine are becoming more popular for their effectiveness. Rituximab has also been used successfully for some patients. [15][16]
Extreme cases (very rare, especially rare in children) may require vincristine, a chemotherapy agent, to stop the immune system from destroying platelets.
Intravenous immunoglobulin, while sometimes effective, is expensive and the improvement is temporary (generally lasting less than a month). However, in the case of a pre-splenectomy ITP patient with dangerously low platelet counts, and a poor response to other treatments, IVIg treatment can increase platelet counts, making the splenectomy operation less dangerous. It is also commonly used as a long-term (though monthly) treatment.
Platelet transfusion
Platelet transfusion is not normally recommended and is usually unsuccessful in raising a patient’s platelet count. This is because the underlying autoimmune mechanism that destroyed the patient’s platelets to begin with will also destroy donor platelets. An exception to this rule is when a patient is bleeding profusely, when transfusion of platelets can quickly form a platelet plug to stop bleeding.
H. pylori eradication
Researchers in Japan (including Ryugo Sato, Oita University) and Italy (including Massimo Franchini, University of Verona) have found a possible connection between H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) infection and ITP. Some patients given antibiotic treatment to eradicate the bacterial infection have had their platelet count increase dramatically.
HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT FOR IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA
Keywords: homeopathy, homeopathic, treatment, cure, remedy, remedies, medicine
Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution, family history, presenting symptoms, underlying pathology, possible causative factors etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’. The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease is not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness are also looked for. No a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition. The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology is not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can be greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.
The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy. To study any of the following remedies in more detail, please visit the Materia Medica section at www.Hpathy.com.
None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice and guidance.
HOMEOPATHY REMEDIES FOR IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA :
Acon., arn., ars., bapt., bell., bry., carb-v., chin-s., chlor., crot-h., ham., jug-r., kali-i., lach., merc., ph-ac., phos., rhus-t., sal-ac., sec., sul-ac., sulfon., ter., verat-v.
SYNONYMS
ITP knows many synonyms, but idiopathic or immunological thrombocytopenic purpura are the most common names. There’s also an eponym, Werlhof’s disease,[22] but this is used infrequently.
Other synonyms include: essential thrombocytopenia, haemogenia, haemogenic syndrome, haemorrhagic purpura, idiopathic thrombopenic purpura, morbus haemorrhagicus maculosus, morbus maculosis haemorrhagicus, morbus maculosus werlhofii, peliosis werlhofi, primary splenic thrombocytopenia, primary thrombocytopenia, primary thrombocytopenic purpura, purpura haemorrhagica, purpura thrombocytopenica, purpura werlhofii, splenic thrombocytopenic purpura, thrombocytolytic purpura.
REFERENCES
1.	^ a bWatts RG (2004). “Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a 10-year natural history study at the children’s hospital of alabama”. Clinical pediatrics 43 (8): 691–702. doi:10.1177/000992280404300802. PMID 15494875.
2.	^Treutiger I, Rajantie J, Zeller B, Henter JI, Elinder G, Rosthøj S (2007). “Does treatment of newly diagnosed idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura reduce morbidity?”. Arch. Dis. Child. 92 (8): 704–7. doi:10.1136/adc.2006.098442. PMID 17460024.
3.	^Ou CY, Hsieh KS, Chiou YH, Chang YH, Ger LP (2006). “A comparative study of initial use of intravenous immunoglobulin and prednisolone treatments in childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpur”. Acta paediatrica Taiwanica = Taiwan er ke yi xue hui za zhi 47 (5): 226–31. PMID 17352309.
4.	^Cines DB, Blanchette VS (2002). “Immune thrombocytopenic purpura”. N. Engl. J. Med. 346 (13): 995–1008. doi:10.1056/NEJMra010501. PMID 11919310.
</p><strong>About the Author:</strong><br />Dr Harshad Raval MD [Homeopathy]
Honorary consultant homeopathy physician to his Excellency Govern.of Gujarat India.
Qualified MD consultant homeopath Physician,
25 years experience in Homeopathy field
Member of nominee advisory committee (Govt. of Gujarat). 
International Homeopathy Advisor, 
Book writer and Columnist For Gujarat Samachar, 
 
ADDRESS:16,Floor,White-House | C.G.Road |  Ellisbridge | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | India