The key difference between acute and chronic ITP is that acute ITP is a type of immune thrombocytopenia that often lasts less than 6 months, while chronic ITP is a type of immune thrombocytopenia that often lasts 6 months or longer.
Platelets are tiny blood cell fragments that are made in the bone marrow. In injuries, platelets stick together to form a plug that seals the wound. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a platelet disorder. In ITP, the blood does not clot as it should be. This is because people with this condition have a low platelet count. Acute and chronic ITP are two different types of ITP that may have prolonged bleeding.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Acute ITP
3. What is Chronic ITP
4. Similarities – Acute and Chronic ITP
5. Acute vs. Chronic ITP in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Acute vs. Chronic ITP
What is Acute ITP?
Acute ITP is a more common type of ITP that can be seen in children. It is a type of immune thrombocytopenia that often lasts less than 6 months. Acute ITP usually affects young children aged 2 to 6 years old. Occasionally, acute ITP can develop in older children and adults as well, although it’s less common.
The symptoms of acute ITP often appear after a virus illness such as chickenpox. These symptoms disappear in less than 6 months or within a few weeks. Acute ITP occurs due to the immune system attacking the body’s own platelets by mistake.
Figure 01: Thrombocytopenia
Acute ITP can be diagnosed through a complete blood count (CBC), peripheral blood smear, and other blood and urine tests. Acute ITP disorder usually does not recur and does not require treatment.
What is Chronic ITP?
Chronic ITP disorder can manifest at any age, but it tends to occur more frequently in adults than in children. However, this condition does not affect teens. Moreover, the symptoms of chronic ITP can last from 6 months to several years or may last for a whole life. Women are generally more affected by chronic ITP than men. Chronic ITP can go away after a longer period and may come back often.
Chronic ITP can be diagnosed through blood tests to check platelet levels and bone marrow biopsy. Furthermore, chronic ITP is treated through steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), Rh immune globulin, surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy), platelet transfusion, rituximab to slow the antiplatelet antibody production, romiplostim, eltrombopag, and avatrombopag to stimulate the bone marrow to make more platelets and lifestyle changes.
What are the Similarities Between Acute and Chronic ITP?
- Acute and chronic ITP are two different types of ITP that may have prolonged bleeding.
- Both types can be seen in children as well as in adults.
- They may have similar symptoms such as purple colour skin, red dots under the skin, nose bleeds, bleeding in the mouth, heavy menstrual periods, blood in vomit, urine and stool, and bleeding in the head.
- Both types can be diagnosed through blood tests.
What is the Difference Between Acute and Chronic ITP?
Acute ITP often lasts less than 6 months, while chronic ITP often lasts 6 months or longer. Thus, this is the key difference between acute and chronic ITP. Furthermore, acute ITP mainly affects young children ages 2 to 6 years old, whereas chronic ITP mainly affects adults.
The infographic below presents the differences between acute and chronic ITP in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Acute vs. Chronic ITP
Immune thrombocytopenia is an illness that leads to bruising and bleeding. This is due to low levels of platelets that help blood clotting. Acute and chronic ITP are two different types of ITP that may have prolonged bleeding. Acute ITP is a more common type of immune thrombocytopenia, while chronic ITP is a less common type of immune thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, acute ITP often lasts less than 6 months, whereas chronic ITP often lasts 6 months or longer. So, this summarizes the difference between acute and chronic ITP.
Reference:
1. “Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP).” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
2. Craig M Kessler, MD. “Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP).” Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology, Medscape.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Thrombocytopenia 1.” By Prof. Erhabor Osaro – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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