Research regarding immunethrombocytopenia(ITP) and COVID-19 is ongoing.
In some cases, it can be severe and lead to significant, even potentially fatal, bleeding.
Risk of Blood Clots
Those infected with COVID-19 carry an increased risk of developingblood clots.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Generally, this risk is managed with the use of blood-thinning medications such as heparin or enoxaparin.
This leads to the potential increased risk of clotting.
In these rare cases, the response to treatment was good with platelets returning to normal.
Whether people living with ITP should get the COVID-19 vaccine should be discussed with their healthcare team treating ITP.
Observation
Some people living with ITP are under routine observation of platelet counts through periodic blood tests.
This should be discussed with the healthcare team that is monitoring ITP to see if these options are available.
Thesemedicationsstop the immune system from destroying platelets which can lead to bleeding.
One of the medications typically used to manage chronic ITP is steroids.
These work by suppressing the immune systems function and stopping platelet destruction.
For people on higher dosages, other medications may be prescribed to allow for lowering the steroid dose.
Infusions such as Rituxan can be given to treat ITP.
This medication works by preventing the immune system from destroying platelets.
A splenectomy is done to decrease platelet destruction.
However, as long as it is safe to do, these surgeries are being done again.
It does not appear that those with previous splenectomy are at a higher risk of developing COVID-19.
How to Stay Safe
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 variants continues to remain important.
However, developing ITP during or after COVID-19 infection has occurred in some people.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed.
As new research becomes available, well update this article.
For the latest on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Published online October 21, 2023. doi: 10.7759/cureus.47433
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Immune thrombocytopenia.
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Akiyama H, Kakiuchi S, Rikitake J, et al.Immune thrombocytopenia associated with Pfizer-BioNTechs BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
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doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01245
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19: how to protect yourself and others.
