Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura: A Guide That Won’t Clot Your Understanding

Abstract

Approximately 50 million Americans, 20 percent of the population or one in five people, suffer from autoimmune diseases (How many Americans have an autoimmune disease?, n.d.). Autoimmunity is when the immune system (which usually protects individuals from infection) begins attacking cells and tissues within the body. Autoimmune disorders can be particularly difficult to deal with because in many cases there are no definite cures. Additionally, many fail to understand how the body system that is supposed to protect them from illness is the exact system causing them problems. When the immune system begins attacking the body’s cells and tissues, an immune response is mounted and resulting damage occurs. The overall goal of this research on Immune (also sometimes referred to as Idiopathic) Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) is to make a more comprehensible guide to the autoimmune disorder and the various treatment options available without over complicating an individual’s understanding.