Treatment For Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Immune Globulin Injection

In cases where corticosteroids aren't helpful, your doctor might use an immune globulin injection, called an IVIG. Doctors might use this method when a patient has critical levels of bleeding, or when they need to have their blood count increased quickly before surgery. The injection's effect generally wears off after a few weeks. There are some possible side effects, including low blood pressure, vomiting, and a headache.

IVIG is often employed in critical situations in which the patient has severe internal bleeding that won't clot, severe bleeding from a wound, or other serious idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura symptoms. Cases that necessitate emergency treatment are rare, but severe bleeding has occurred. IVIG won't be the only treatment used in the course of emergency care, however. Usually, intravenous immune globulin will be combined with an intravenous corticosteroid and transfusions of platelets.

Emergency Treatment Options

As mentioned, it is rare for an idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patient to be subject to severe bleeding, though there are some cases where this may happen. A deep wound might pose a problem, as could internal bleeding into any organ. In even rarer cases, menstruating women might bleed so much they become anemic. If a wound won't stop bleeding, it's an emergency medical situation. When applied pressure isn't closing the wound, you need to go to the emergency room. Another emergency situation involves major blood loss.

When a patient is admitted with a severe bleed caused by ITP, the first of the emergency treatment options is to give them platelet concentrate transfusions. The goal is to raise the patient's platelet count until their wounds can clot and bleeding can subside. Intravenous corticosteroids will also be applied to suppress the immune system. The last treatment to stabilize the platelet count will be immune globulin administered intravenously. Essentially, the emergency treatment is to give the patient intense intravenous courses of all platelet-boosting medications available.