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Immune Mediate Thrombocytopenia Research Paper

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Immune Mediate Thrombocytopenia and an Adjunctive or Alternative Immunosuppressant Option.
As you know, treating Immune mediate thrombocytopenia (IMTP) can have its challenges. Every case is different and thus the approach should be individualized and tailored according to the clinical presentation and severity of disease. Although IMTP is a serious disease, overall survival rate is as high as 84% with relapse rate of 9%. Primary treatment of IMTP involves administration of corticosteroids, but this may not apply to all cases of canine IMTP. For example, is your patient on a medication or have a concurrent disease in which corticosteroids are contraindicated? One of the alternative immunosuppressant medications used to treat canine IMTP is a drug called mycophenolate mofetil. In this article I will discuss the use of this drug which will hopefully give you one more option when tailoring a plan for your IMTP patient. Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia (IMTP) is the destructions of platelets due to the binding …show more content…

This drug is a reversible inhibitory of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPD) and inhibits de novo purine synthesis, lymphocyte proliferation and antibody production. In dogs, its onset of action is rapid with maximal IMPD inhibition 2-4 hours post pill administration. It has a very similar action to azathioprine and can be used as an alternative since it seems to be less hepatotoxic and has very little myelosuppression effects comparatively. Common side effects of mycophenolate mofetil include gastrointestinal signs, predominately diarrhea but also vomiting and decrease in appetite. These side effects typically occur at higher doses (10-15mg/kg every 8 hours) and dose reduction and frequency seems to lessen the clinical side effects. However, as this drug is used more frequently, other side effects may become more

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