Any help for ITP?

[cino]

I posted a question on here earlier, but cant seem to find it now. My daughter has ITP and had a bone marrow biopsy and was diagnosed with this 2 yrs ago. She has been on prednisone on and off for 2 yrs, but not it is not working that well and her platelets are dropping low even on the prednisone. Her last count was 12 (which in USA is 12,000).  They never seem to go over 32 (32,000).  She is now having a spleenectomy in a couple of weeks. I was just wondering if there is anything anyone has found to help increase the platelets? Much appreciated.

[justwanabe]

hi i was i have had itp since the age of 3 im 20 now i had my spleen remover but unfortunately i was in the small %of people it does not help my liver ended up taking on the job of destroying my platelets, i receive iIVIG treatment once a month regardless of my count this seem to be working well i have only had 3 low counts in the past 7 months(which for me is a huge  improvement  my count was  normally around 5-10 ) since treatment it has been around 80-100 so it a large improvement any way best of luck with her spleenectomy!

[leaty]

Hi glad to have another sufferer. My wife was diagnosed with ITP after knee replacement surgery in France. Her platelet count dropped below 5000, and she had emergency treatment with corticosteriods. After 5 weeks she still remains on hospital because they don't seem able to maintain an acceptable level I understand that a stable level of 50000 is acceptable with regular monitoring and perhaps regular  drug treatment but i am finding it difficult to obtain information too.

[want2bik1]

There are certain vitamins and supplements you can take for Cardiovascular disease and for weakened immune system.  I have a book call "Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC" which tells you what you can take.  The book states Acute, or temporary, thrombocytopenic purpura is most commonly seen in young children.  Boys and girls are equally affected.  Symptoms often, but do not necessarily,follow a viral infection.  About 85% of children recover within one year, and the problem does not return.  If use of a drug is the cause of the thrombocytopenia, standard treatment involves discontinuing the drug's use.  Infection, if present is treated vigorously, since control of the infection can return the platelet count to normal.  Get as much information as you can so you can make a good decision on how you want to treat this.  Good Luck.  

[ewal09]

there are many newer drugs on the market now. i have had itp for 3 1/2 years now, nplate is a new drug that has helped many it did not help me but it would be worth a try, promacta is also another new one that i tried but it did not help me either but it is worth a try because it may work for your daughter. there is also some chemo's that may help her rituxin is one of them they are not supposed to be harsh ones but everybody responds different to medicines. i had my spleen removed a little over 2 years ago the day it was removed my platelets shot up to 299 but then fell to less than 50 over the next day hopefully it will work for your daughter hope maybe some of the info i listed helps.

[cino]

thanks for that...she is actually under the care of a Haemotolgoist (spelling?)......and he is actually a 'Consultant" which over here in Australia seems to be one of the highest, however she still has not seen a Rheumatologist, which I am trying to get her to do. Thanks for that. If you remember the name, let me know.

[PlateletGal]

Hi cino,

I'm sorry. I got your PM and read it (I was brain fogged at the time) and meant to write you back.

I know there is a medication that can increase platelet count, but can't remember the name of it. It was something that I just recently heard about. I would have your daughter talk to her physician and / or consider going with her to her next appointment.

I wish you daughter the best with her surgery. If I remember right, one-third of our platelets are in our spleen.