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In children, the disease often runs its course without treatment.
In adults, the initial treatment is usually with a drug called prednisone. A splenectomy (removal of the spleen) is sometimes advised. The spleen is the major site of platelet destruction, but removal of the spleen will only bring up the platelet count in 50% of people.
Other treatments (when the disease does not respond to initial treatment) are:
- Oral danazol
- High-dose gamma globulin injections
- Drugs that suppress the immune system
- Passing the blood over a protein A (Prosorba) column, which filters antibodies out of the blood stream
- Anti-RhD therapy can also be useful in people with specific blood types
People with ITP should avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and warfarin because these drugs interfere with platelet function and blood clotting, and bleeding may occur.
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