A couple of weeks ago I put together a blog post dedicated to natural remedies that have potential to increase one’s platelet count and today I thought it would be good to discuss the most common conventional treatment options available.
Like I have said many times treatment for this condition is re-active so basically you need to understand because there is no cure for ITP this means that the treatment options your haematologist will offer you are just a Band-Aid solution. This isn’t to say that you won’t go into remission because there have been cases were ITP patients have somehow overcome ITP however these cases are extremely rare and are kind of like winning the lottery – it’s just the luck of the draw.
I personally find conventional treatment options very overwhelming and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that I have to put terrible things into my body or remove good stuff out (eg. Spleen) in order to fight this condition and that’s not to say that these “conventional treatments” will 100% work. Every ITP patient is different and what works for one does not necessarily work for another therefor again it’s the luck of the draw.
My doctor has many times discussed the treatment options available to me and I am very thankful that she is well renowned for not being too hasty to medicate her patients suffering from ITP. I believe having a doctor whom understands the harm these conventional treatments can do for my body in the long run is extremely important for my overall lifespan.
Ok so enough about me – let’s get to it and discuss the most common conventional treatment options available;
Prednisone – this is an immune suppressant it is taken in pill form and is a corticosteroid (eg. Steroid). This drug is designed to suppress the immune system which in turn should help increase your platelet count. According to this study initial response rate with prednisone is pretty successful around 70-80% however there are high relapses therefore it doesn’t give many ITP patients a long term remission. The dosage will go off your weight and duration will be between you and your doctor’s findings. To learn more about this drug (trust me you want know about the side effects) check this out.
IVIG – This is generally used with corticosteroid medication it’s for those whom require a rapid increase in ones platelet count. It is delivered directly into the vein for several hours. IVIG comes from human plasma. It is a blood product made from human blood (therefor donors are required). What the IVIG does is it contains antibodies that bind to the cell in the spleen which in turn keeps the cells from destroying the platelets. Click here to learn more.
NPlate – This is a man-made platelet booster medicine that basically encourages the cells in your bone marrow to make more platelets. NPlate is a weekly injection and its aim is purely to keep the platelet count at >50,000. For more information (again you want to know the side effects) please click here.
Rituximab – To receive rituximab you basically get an IV injection weekly over a 4 week period. Rituximab pretty much attacks your B-cells leaving you with a very low immune system for months which increases your risks of infection and disease. On the plus side Rituximab studies have indicated that it can have a long lasting response rate in approx. 30% of patients meaning it could give you months or years of relief. This product is generally used alongside chemo treatment so the side effects again are not great and you may want to be aware.
Splenectomy – this is a surgical procedure to remove the spleen. Back in the day this is how they use to treat ITP patients (they thought because the spleen is part of your immune system that removing the spleen would be removing the organ involved in lowering your platelets) however in recent years doctors have realised that this procedure is not a cure for all and only has a success rate of about 50 – 60%. If you are thinking about this form of treatment please be sure you understand the role of your spleen and that you have exhausted all other avenues above.
Platelet Transfusion - This form of treatment is only really for those whom have a seriously low platelet count as it's limited by the amount of blood donors available. This form of treatment is generally only used when you have severe bleeding and require blood immediately.
If you have tried any of these treatments above please comment below your success rate (eg. How long did it last?).
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