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| Also known as:

| Also known as:

| '''Idiopathic Thrombocytopaenic Purpura'''<br>

| '''Idiopathic Thrombocytopaenic Purpura'''<br>

Immune-mediated thrombocytopaenia (ITP) occurs due to an autoimmune response directed against circulating platelets or megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.  The destruction of cells is mediated by antibodies, making ITP a form of '''[[Type II Hypersensitivity|type II hypersensitivity]]'''.  The antibodies bind to cells and act as a foundation for the assembly of serum complement components or as opsonins, promoting the uptake and destruction of platelets by cells of the monocyte-phagocyte system (MPS).  The destruction of platelets usually results in severe [[Platelet Abnormalities|thrombocytopaenia]] and, if the blood level of platelets fall below approximately 50x10^9/l, the affected animal is at risk of mucosal haemorrhages.   

Immune-mediated thrombocytopaenia (ITP) occurs due to an autoimmune response directed against circulating platelets or megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.  The destruction of cells is mediated by antibodies, making ITP a form of '''[[Type II Hypersensitivity|type II hypersensitivity]]'''.  The antibodies bind to cells and act as a foundation for the assembly of serum complement components or as opsonins, promoting the uptake and destruction of platelets by cells of the monocyte-phagocyte system (MPS).  The destruction of platelets usually results in severe [[Platelet Abnormalities|thrombocytopaenia]] and, if the blood level of platelets fall below approximately 50x10^9/l, the affected animal is at risk of mucosal haemorrhages.   

ITP may be '''primary''' (with no apparent underlying cause) or '''secondary''' to another disease process, to an infection or as a reaction to some drugs.  ITP that occurs concurrently with [[Immune Mediated Haemoytic Anaemia|immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia]] (IMHA) is known as '''Evan’s syndrome'''.

ITP may be '''primary''' (with no apparent underlying cause) or '''secondary''' to another disease process, to an infection or as a reaction to some drugs.  ITP that occurs concurrently with [[Immune Mediated Haemolytic Anaemia|immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia]] (IMHA) is known as '''Evan’s syndrome'''.

==Signalment==

==Signalment==

Definitive diagnosis relies on the detection of serum anti-platelet antibodies but this test is not widely available.

Definitive diagnosis relies on the detection of serum anti-platelet antibodies but this test is not widely available.

Other tests may also be used to exclude potential infectious causes of thrombocytopaenia such as ‘’[[Ehrlichia platys]]’’ and ‘’[[Anaplasma phagocytophilum]]’’.   

Other tests may also be used to exclude potential infectious causes of thrombocytopaenia such as ''[[Ehrlichia platys]]'' and ''[[Tick-borne Fever|Anaplasma phagocytophilum]]''.   

Faecal occult blood tests represent an unreliable way of detecting gastro-intestinal haemorrhage in cases of mild melaena.  The animal must be deprived of meat, bismuth subsalicylate and ferrous sulphate for 3 days before the faecal samples are taken for analysis.

Faecal occult blood tests represent an unreliable way of detecting gastro-intestinal haemorrhage in cases of mild melaena.  The animal must be deprived of meat, bismuth subsalicylate and ferrous sulphate for 3 days before the faecal samples are taken for analysis.