Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Samples

Bay Biosciences provides high-quality biopsy tissue samples, formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks, with matched fresh frozen sera (serum), plasma, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) bio-fluids, from patients diagnosed with Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Moreover, the serum, plasma and PBMCs are processed from patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols from Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Furthermore, fresh frozen tissue and matched biofluid samples are collected from unique patients diagnosed with Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Additionally, the samples are provided to a valued pharmaceutical customer for research, diagnostics, discovery and drug development.

 

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) Overview

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is a rare autoimmune disorder in which a person’s blood doesn’t clot normally, because the immune system destroys the blood-clotting platelets. This condition commonly refers to immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

“Thrombocytes” are the platelets, and “penia” means you don’t have enough of something.

ITP can cause excessive bruising and bleeding. An unusually low level of platelets, or thrombocytes, in the blood results in ITP.

Platelets are produced in the bone marrow. They help stop bleeding by clumping together to form a clot that seals cuts or small tears in blood vessel walls and tissues. If your blood doesn’t have enough platelets, it’s slow to clot. Internal bleeding or bleeding on or under the skin can result.

Platelet Counts

A healthy person usually has a platelet count of 150,000 and 450,000/mm. Platelet counts below 50,000 mm increase the risk of dangerous bleeding from trauma; counts below 20,000/mm increase the risk of spontaneous bleeding. You have thrombocytopenia if your number falls under 150,000.

Patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) often have many purple bruises called purpura on the skin or mucous membranes inside the mouth. These bruises may also appear as pinpoint-sized red or purple dots on the skin called petechiae. Petechiae often look like a rash.

ITP can occur in both children and adults. There appears to be differences at certain ages between women and men and the development of ITP. At younger ages, ITP may be more common in women.

At older ages, it may be more common in men. Children are most likely to develop this condition after a general viral illness. Some specific viruses, such as chickenpox, mumps, and measles, have been linked to ITP as well.

According to the national organization of rare diseases (NORD), they estimate that the prevalence (how many people are diagnosed each year) of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) among adults in the Unites States is 3.3 per 100,000 adults/year.

Types of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

The two main types of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are acute (short term) and chronic (long term).

Acute ITP is the most common form of the disorder in children. It usually lasts less than six months.

Chronic ITP lasts six months or longer. It most commonly appears in adults, although teenagers and younger children can also be affected.

Causes of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

Exact cause of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is not known, but researchers think that some kinds of viral infection may cause the the immune system to malfunction and start producing antibodies that attack platelets.

In ITP, the immune system produces antibodies against platelets. These platelets are marked for destruction and removal by the spleen, which lowers the platelet count. The immune system also appears to interfere with cells responsible for normal platelet production, which can further lower the number of platelets in the blood stream.

In children, ITP often develops acutely following a virus. In adults, ITP usually develops over time.

ITP can also be classified as primary, occurring on its own, or secondary, occurring alongside another condition. Autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, medications, pregnancy, and certain cancers are common secondary triggers.

Secondary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) happens when ITP is linked to another condition, such as:

Medicines Linked to ITP

Some medicines can increase the risk of ITP, such as:

  • Certain drugs for heart problems, seizures, and infections
  • Heparin, a blood thinner used to prevent blood clots

Your doctor will figure out if a drug is causing your platelet count to drop. They may be able to adjust your dose or change your medication.

Other Treatments Linked to ITP

  • Heart bypass surgery
  • Radiation treatment on your bone marrow

Signs and Symptoms of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

In most patients with mild immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), there are no symptoms and they will feel perfectly well. However, if the platelet count drops very low, they may experience an increase in bruising or bleeding.

Following are the common signs and symptoms of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP):

  • Anxiety
  • Anemia
  • A skin rash of small red dots (petechiae), which does not blanch (go pale) with pressure
  • Bleeding from the gums
  • Blotches and bruises
  • Depression
  • Excessive bleeding during surgery
  • Fatigue
  • Frequent nosebleeds that take a long time to stop
  • Internal bleeding
  • Long or heavy menstrual periods
  • Profuse bleeding during surgery
  • Sudden leaking from tiny blood vessels
  • Bleeding from any area of the body
  • Skin that bruises very easily 
  • Stress

Diagnosis of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

Most of the time immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) has no symptoms and may be discovered during blood tests for an unrelated medical procedure. ITP is diagnosis of exclusion, once a low platelet count has been discovered, more tests are used to rule out any other causes.

Your doctor will perform a complete physical exam. They’ll ask you about your medical history and the medications you’re taking.

Following are the common tests used to diagnose immune thrombocytopenia (ITP):

CBC Test

  • First, CBC Blood Tests: Complete blood count test will be performed to check for platelet numbers, to see if there are abnormalities in other blood counts, also to check if the blood cells look normal under the microscope.The blood tests may also include tests to evaluate your liver and kidney function, depending on your symptoms. A follow-up blood test that checks for platelet antibodies may also be recommended.

Bone Marrow Biopsy

  • Second, Bone Marrow Biopsy: If you have a low platelet count, your doctor may also order a bone marrow test. Doctors remove a small sample of bone marrow through a needle and then check it in a laboratory. In a patient with ITP, the platelets produced in the bone marrow should be normal. This is because your platelets are destroyed in the bloodstream and spleen after they leave the bone marrow. If your bone marrow is abnormal, another disease will likely cause your low platelet count, rather than ITP.

Blood Smear

  • Additionally, Blood Smear: This shows how your platelets look under a microscope.

Other Tests

  • Finally, Other Tests: To rule out other conditions that may cause a low platelet count, such as acute leukemia and aplastic anemia.

Treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

Treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) based on the total number of platelets you have and on how often and how much you bleed. In some cases, ITP goes away by itself. 

Platelets counts that become too low put you at risk for spontaneous bleeding in the brain and other organs. Low red blood cell counts can also be a sign of internal bleeding.

Preferred Treatments

First-line treatments (the preferred treatments, or the ones that are tried first) for ITP include:

  • Corticosteroids: These medications are used to reduce the activity of the immune system. They may administer intravenous injections or tablets.

Dexamethasone or prednisone is typically prescribed to raise the patients platelet count. You can take it once a day in the form of a pill or tablet. Doctors generally see an increased or normalized platelet count within 2 weeks of therapy, particularly with high-dose dexamethasone.

Side Effects

There are some side effects to prednisone, especially if you use it for a long time. Even after a short time, you can get irritable, have stomach upsets, and have other problems such as:

  • First, acne
  • Second, frequent urination
  • Moreover, sleep problems
  • Furthermore, puffy cheeks
  • Additionally, lower bone density
  • Finally, weight gain

Besides side effects, another disadvantage to prednisone is that the treatment may cause your platelet count to drop again once it is finished.

IVIG Treatment

  • Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG): This is a blood product that consists of concentrated antibodies. Researchers think that the autoantibodies might be ‘swamped’ by IVIG, reducing their ability to target platelets. IVIG has to be given by an intravenous infusion and may take a couple of hours.
If the immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients cannot get the platelet count up with prednisone, and cannot tolerate steroids, or if the count drops after the treatment, your doctor may suggest IVIG treatment. You take this medication through an IV, usually for several hours a day for 1 to 5 days.
The advantage of IVIG is that it can raise your platelet count quickly. But the increase in platelets is only temporary. It helps patients who need to get their levels boosted quickly or who cannot tolerate steroids. Following are the side effects of IVIG treatment:

Second-line treatments (those used if the first-line treatments do not work) include:

  • Splenectomy: Surgical removal of the spleen. This operation cures ITP in about 70 per cent of chronic cases
  • Thrombopoietin analogues: Treatment to increase production of new platelets in the bone marrow
  • Monoclonal antibodies to CD20, an injection treatment targeting antibody-producing cells.

Occasionally, a patient who appears to have been cured of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) will experience a relapse, perhaps months or even years after the initial episode. If this happens the patient will need repeat treatment. In most cases, a viral infection seems to trigger the relapse.

Complications of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

The most dangerous complication of ITP is bleeding, especially bleeding into the brain, which can be fatal. However, serious bleeding is rare.

The treatments for ITP can have more risks than the disease itself. The long-term use of corticosteroids can cause serious side effects, including:

  • A loss of muscle mass
  • Cataracts
  • Diabetes
  • An increased risk of infection
  • Osteoporosis

Surgery to remove the spleen permanently increases your risk of bacterial infections and the risk of becoming seriously ill if you get an infection. It’s important to watch for any symptoms of infection and report them to your doctor promptly.

Biospecimens

biospecimens

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Moreover, human biospecimens are available including tumor tissue, serum, plasma and PBMC Samples from most other therapeutic areas.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and likewise normal healthy donors for controls. Additionally, available in all formats and types.

In fact, our biobank procures and stores fully consented, de-identified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples, human biofluids such as serum samples, plasma samples from various diseases and matched controls.

Also, all our human tissue collections, human biospecimens and human biofluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

In fact, this critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Additionally, researchers find the patient’s data associated with the human biospecimens extremely valuable and use it to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, as well as in other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and human biological samples, including fresh frozen human biospecimens cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

For example fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as human serum, human plasma and human PBMCs.

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Types of Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) and human bio-fluids from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

  • Firstly, peripheral whole-blood
  • Secondly, amniotic fluid
  • Thirdly, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
  • Next, sputum
  • Also, pleural effusion
  • Moreover, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Likewise, serum (sera)
  • In addition, plasma
  • Moreover, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) 
  • Furthermore, saliva
  • Next, buffy coat
  • Accordingly, urine
  • For example, Stool samples
  • Also, aqueous humor
  • And, vitreous humor
  • Lastly, kidney stones (renal calculi)
  • Finally, other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.

Moreover, we can also procure most human biospecimens and human biofluids, special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples and human biofluids are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human biofluids such as  human plasma, human serum, and human PBMCs bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols. you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us in multiple format and sets.

Bay Biosciences also provides human biospecimens from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, Contact us Now.