Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

(^202) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
body destroys the platelets within the spleen. ITP is typically more common in
women and becomes chronic in adults who are in early to mid-adulthood.
PROGNOSIS
Problems for the patient are most likely the result of bleeding due to inadequate
platelets. Prednisone can control the majority of cases of ITP.
HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Bleeding in mucous membranes or skin due to low platelet count:
  
  
  • epistaxis
  
  
  • oral bleeding
  
  
  • menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding)
  
  
  • purpura
  
  
  • petechiae
  
  
  
  

INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS

• Thrombocytopenia—low platelet count.


• Mild anemia—usually secondary to bleeding.


• PT normal.


• PTT normal.

TREATMENT

The use of prednisone in patients with ITP is to decrease the body’s action on the

antibody-tagged platelets. Initially, the use of prednisone will also help to enhance

vascular stability. High-dose therapy needs to be tapered down. Most patients will

be on long-term maintenance doses of prednisone. Splenectomy provides com-

plete or partial remission.

• Prednisone—bleeding will stop even before platelet count begins to rise.


• High-dose IV immunoglobulin.


• Danazol.