Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
is an autoimmune disease wherein the
immune system creates antibodies against
platelets. Antibodies bind to the
platelets’ surface and make them more
suitable for destruction. Platelets
covered with antibodies are more easily
destroyed by the reticular-endothelial
system (RES) found in organs like the
spleen, liver etc. One of the functions of
the RES is to destroy older blood elements
(erythrocytes, platelets, etc.).
Therefore, we can say that the number of
platelets in someone experiencing ITP
decreases because of a greater rate of
destruction. ITP is diagnosed when an
anti-thrombocyte antibody is found in the
blood.
In case of Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia
(CLL) the number of platelets is also
decreasing but because of other reasons.
In CLL there is increased production of
lymphocytes in the bone marrow where
platelets are also produced. The
lymphocyte production is so big that
suppress the production of the other blood
elements (platelets, erythrocytes,
granulocytes and monocytes). So we can
say that in case of CLL the platelets
number is decreasing because of their less
production.
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