Chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder in which the
patient's immune system reacts with a platelet autoantigen (s) resulting in thrombocytopenia
due to immune-mediated platelet destruction and/or suppression of platelet production.
Platelet membrane proteins, for reasons that are unclear, become antigenic and stimulate
the immune system to produce autoantibodies and cytotoxic T cells. The initial antigenic
response probably occurs in the spleen followed by stimulation of other antibody-producing …