kim

Cheri, Yes, at least that's something. It's just so wrong, that what many people probably picked up on (as they were making their morning coffee) was " YET ANOTHER STUDY SHOULD PUT PARENTS MIND AT EASE." Faith, I think I'll respond to your question on a different thread, but I'm glad you figured out that I didn't plan on trying to get 4 flu shots for my son

mblack, I did post a comment on this site http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/...s-_b_66007.html yesterday. As of this morning, it's not there yet. It was very similar to what I asked for opinions on, above. I would encourage anyone and everyone, who would like to see this investigated to post, everywhere this study is being discussed. From a little checking around, the "tic significance" is NOT getting much discussion. I just can't understand, other than the Kirby article, why. I guess there are many parents that have no idea. I probably should have posted something like what I just did, under the article Cheri posted. Carolyn has offered to provide David Kirby's email, your suggestions are all things to consider. I guess my brain hurts a little this morning. I'm thinking that the porphyrin testing would be helpful also. I'l put the links here again. http://www.mercury-freedrugs.org/docs/0793...yPoisoningb.pdf http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/67953.php It looks like we should be able to print some of these articles, take them to a Dr. and tell them we would like, at least the Lab Corp test. Personally, I would like the french test also. It's not that expensive. Maybe Claire, will comment on her opinion of that test again.

No mention of increased incidence of tics hummmm. I notice, in the Medline abstract cited at the bottom of that article, there is no reference to increased incidence of tics referred to three times in the abstract of the study, either. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/13/1281 I wish they would try this, for equal btwn positives and negatives. My youngest son has been reading at an advanced level for quite some time. I think this suggests that maybe I should seek out a thimerosal laced flu vaccine for him this season. Maybe I can talk someone into giving him 3 or 4. Maybe then he can jump right to the college level in reading. I guess I could overlook eyerolls/blinks, shoulder shrugs, head shakes, fist/wrist movements, lack of ability to eat normally, frequent urination, jaw snapping,a few humm humm sounds here and there, gasping at the end of sentences etc. As long as he performs well with finger tapping, grooved peg bd tests, word recognition. Hey we can't have everything!

kallik, Do you know what kind of drops are being used as a chelator? I think you are right to be very cautious here. Personally, I would want very detailed information. Did you say the injections were amino acids? I hope he gave you instructions to wean off the clonidine very slowly! I wouldn't even try to guess about the thyroid medication, but please be very careful and don't do anything that you are not perfectly comfortable with.

Michele and Samsmom, Faith, You surely can find out. Just get a copy of your son's immunization record. Then you look up the vax package inserts. I believe every one of them can be found online. It's kind of hard, because your son probably got vaccines that are different from the ones that my boys had. But I will be happy to try to help you gather as much info as you would like. Come to think of it, a friend of mine who is a teacher just told me that the school can look up your childs vaccine records on line. It's a public site. I have read about the national vaccine regisrty and how to "opt out" but I have never pursued it. When you think about it, it should be confidential info, but apparently it isn't, unless you request that it not be made public. Anyway, I think it is going to be a state by state site. If anyone can find how to find it, that would be great, if not, I'll see what I can do. Just remember, when the 6 extra doses of (3) hep b and (3) hib were added to the line up in the late 80's early 90's, that is the time frame that an increase in problems seemed to appear. There have been more vaccines added, in more "combo," shots since that time too. No one knows exactly what is happening. Is it the sheer number of antigens, a vax ingredient, aluminum (I don't think they have even begun to really look at that yet) simply more toxins in our environment along with the combination with all of the shots, no relationship? We just don't know, because this whole mess has been denied and swept under the carpet for so long IMHO, that the creadible (hopefully) evidence is just emerging. Thimerosal has been suspected, because mercury is so toxic and it was in the shots that were added, in that time frame. That was the long way of saying, even if you find that your son's received no thimerosal, or trace amts. we can't overlook the fact that the immune system is probably involved in TS or at least some cases and we don't know how injecting antigens is going to affect our kids (or anyone's). It leaves us in a pretty bad spot. Faith, I just wanted to mention, some parents of autistic kids are delighted when their child starts getting what appears to be normal illness. They have posted that their child never got sick, when everyone else in the family did, and never had fevers. Some seem to think, that the normal immune symtoms just weren't present. I don't know if there is anything to this or not, just kind of interesting.

Wow http://www.mercury-freedrugs.org/docs/0793...yPoisoningb.pdf http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/67953.php Autistic Children Clinically Proven Mercury Poisoned "Mercury (Thimerosal) in Vaccines: FDA and CDC "Guilty" of Misconduct, Says Senate Report (1 October 2007)" http://www.mercury-freedrugs.org/docs/0710...Misconductb.pdf

Carolyn. Thank you so much. I'm still doing a some facts gathering. Claire's post about the remark that nurse made at the Dr. appt, got me thinking about exactly when you could be reasonably sure that your child didn't receive a thimerosal containing vax. I found this. Thought it might be of interest to others http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:y4LKe...cd=13&gl=us Also, as I was totaling the amt. of thimerosal my boys received (during their first 7 mos, which is what the study was looking at), by looking at their vax records for the millionth time, I realized that I had NOT included the link for the actual abstract that was recently published. Guess I will add it here(I'm a ditz ) This is the abstract for the recent study that started this whole topic http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/13/1281 I am fairly certain at this point that my oldest son received 150 mcg/ug and youngest 112.5 during the period of 0 to 7 mos of age. However, even though youngest would have been gotten less, he was younger and smaller for exposure with 2 shots. I am trying to find at eactly what exposure, the increase in incidence of tics was associated with. If anyone has the full article (paid subscription to NEJM) or has any info regarding this, I sure would love to know. I don't see it, in the abstract.

Claire, I think the reference to Ophra, was about Jenny McCarthy's recent appearance. She has been able to do what no one else has been allowed that I know of, which is to discuss immunizations in relationship to Autism. I WISH David Kirby would appear on a few of these shows (Ophra, the View, Larry King). If I can ever bring myself to walk back into a reg. Dr.s office, that's a great idea. I just get a knot thinking about it. Btwn what I have been through with the boys, and having concerns that were blown off, and having to endure those patient smiles from one Dr., and down right shouting match with another, it's almost more than I can take. We have been using a walk in "ready med" type place for last strep diagnosis, and staph infection for oldest. He's had 3 of those now. I'm a little concerned about that. Ever since I had a dermatologist. remove that darn mole, which probably didn't need to be removed at all. Anyway, its great to hear from you as always. If you come up with a direct email for David Kirby, please post.

Need input Do you all think this would be ok? I thought keeping it breif would be best, and also easiest for others to add to, in their own post.

I all most feel like apologizing for so many posts today, but I would like to add one more to this thread. I just wanted to let you all know that I registered to post a remark on the Kirby web site. You have to wait for verification and authorization to post. I will be trying to come up with a what I want to say in the mean time. Registering is easy, but several screen names are taken. I can only hope that others on this forum will help flood that site. Whether or not your child was born btwn the years discussed, family history or not, girl or boy, I think there can only be benefit in finding answers to this question. There are other sources of mercury exposure, probably different degrees of sensitivity, (and a whole host of other possibilities) but for now, we may have an opportunity in this one area. Any encouragement for further research ASAP can only be helpful.

michele, Please see response under "explode" thread

Faith, ! You give me way too much credit Faith. So much of what I share here is info others provide. When people who are educated in these fields speak, I realize how totally naive I am to think that I can piece anything together,but I agree we may as well keep trying. I want to respond to Michele post on another thread here, to keep info in one place. An assistant to a Dr. that she saw recently, made remarks that I felt were extremely arrogant, narrow minded and uninformed. I want to give the link, to the study that started this topic. There are 3 references to 3 separate studies that associate thimerosal exposure with an increase incidence of tics. Two of them are spelled out in the Kirby article and are mentioned in this study which has been published in the NEJM along with the third which can be found a little more than half way down the page. It involves a study of British children, which has found the same association. Now this is just a little more, than the parents here should overlook, wouldn't ya think? Another recent study in regards to diet http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/09/27/autism-study.html Compounds produced in the digestive system have been linked to autistic-type behaviour in laboratory settings, potentially demonstrating that what autistic children eat can alter their brain function, say scientists from the University of Western Ontario. Research seems to be coming quickly. I can only hope that it will bear evidence that will come back to bite this guy high on the fatty part of the backside of his upper thigh.

Caryn, I just want to tell you, that the only reason that I'm focusing on thimerosal right now, is because this is what the CDC is questioning it in relationship to tics. I SO understand your concern with other components/applicaton of vaccines. You said that your son never received any thimerosal containing vaxes. I'm not questioning the truth of that, just wondering how you determined it? In the Pessah lecture, which I have referred to many times, he talks about the dendritic cells and how they travel to the lymph system and educate T cells, B cells and he makes a remark something like...and probably NK cells. NK cells would be Natural killer cells. Now, here's a study that looks a familial TS. When we go back so many generations, to me it's quite evident that greatgrandpa, probably did not receive a bunch of mercury containing vaxes, right? But, what if there is something special (faulty) about NK cells in both instances, from different causes. Again, I'm talking about subsets, not all cases. I had a hard time deciding if this was a group of suspected PANDAS kids, or people with just a family history or what. Is there another meaning, for the word familial? Told you guys I didn't have any special knowledge here! http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin...262977/ABSTRACT Fourteen genes, primarily Natural Killer Cell (NK) genes, discriminated between TS and all controls

Just wanted to say thank you to all of you for your reponses. I wish I had time to respond to everything, because I think I could write a page on each persons comment easiest one first Tom's Mom (these thoughts responses are just to the best of my knowledge which is extremely limited...no medical training/education or education in any area of science)! It was recommended for elimination from vaccines in 1999, but there was never a recall. It may have remained on Dr.s shelves, until the expiration dates, which are said to be around 2002, in most articles. Some Flu shots would be an exception, I believe TD boosters, and a few others that are not routinly administered. Caryn, There are several things that I would like to ask you, or comment on from your post. Maybe I can do that in a separate post. . My oldest was. He required frequent blood draws, and I was told to stop nursing (blah!) and get a lot of formula in him. I honestly can't remember if youngest was or not. He was one dark baby, but I don't remember taking him for blood tests. I'll have to give that some thought. My understanding is that estrogen is thought to have some protective effects from mercury and testerone a negative. Juls, Do you think circulating something to different groups, asking for people to email David Kirby stating something like "My child was fully immunized beginning in the year _____, and has been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, chonic tics etc," would be beneficial? Did anyone hear anything on the news regarding the new study showing thimerosal not being harmful, that said a possible correlation between thimerosal exposure and tics was found? Was that mentioned anywhere in the media (newspapers -TV), that anyone heard/read?

thanks for the responses Faith and Bmom, . I think they already know it. Maybe not know exactly what's going on, but I think they have a pretty good idea. That's why they do LAME studies, instead of looking at exactly what is going on in these kids cells/bodies. Faith, they got out of that, exactly what they wanted. A head line. When you start looking at this stuff, its so easy to see how things are ochastrated. My point here is, I think WE are in the best position to demand some answers. Is anyone willing to do it? What would be the best way? I don't care WHAT the outcome is. At least, since it's by there own admission (CDC) how could they bury us with double talk, when THEY have come to the conclusion themselves. What could be learned about tourette syndrome, autism, adhd, ocd (or ruled out) if our kids were studied? What if we contacted David Kirby and said, "heres a group of children, that we as parents, feel may be of interest to you?" Would someone be interested in doing some indepenent testing on our children? Why aren't we sittting on Ophra, Larry King etc. telling that we have children that the CDC says, may have been injured. They say it needs follow up. I agree! If we, and chidren with other spectrum disorders could gain any answers, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

Regarding the article that I posted by David Kirby yesterday http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/...s-_b_66007.html I have to ask the question of the members of this forum, Does anyone else here see what I'm seeing? This has been a nagging dilema of mine, since I was either cursed or blessed (believe me somedays I feel it was the later) to make the decision to see what all of the hoop la was regarding vaccinations/thimerosal. I'm going to keep this brief, unless there is more of a response than I have seen with previous discussion. I truly do not mean this to sound kurt, I'm just frustrated. For what seems like years, I have been astonished at how little reference I have seen to TS or tic syndromes in regards to vaccines. It's always about Autism or ADHD. BUT the CDC has handed us evidence at least TWICE that I know of, where TICS have been an increased outcome, by their own admission, and needs further investigation. Has anyone with children born between the late 198O's and 1999, who have been diagnosed by a neurologist, been contacted? I haven't. Does anyone even collect data on diagnosed kids? I just strongly feel the need to make noise about this. Do the children who fit the criteria, not offer a HUGE opportunity, to either answer some questions regarding harm that may have been caused by thimerosal( or just vaccines in general?), since this is a question that is even being posed by the CDC? Can I ask why we are trying to find the most reliable/safest way to check mercury levels in our children, without even the benefit of insurance coverage? Please, don't anyone without children born between the years that I mentioned, feel excluded. Just listen to the Pessah lecture about what was seen, when looking down a miroscope when cells were exposed to 1 nanoml thimerosal. The only reason children born, in that approx 10 year span, are being singled out is because they are likely to have the HIGEST exposure from vaccination, and these are the children who have been studied so far. For anyone who did not read the entire article, which I didn't even do, prior to posting it, would you please consider what is stated near the bottom. Any feed back would be greatly appreciated. Bolding is obviously mine. Despite these statistical pressures to drive the numbers downward, the associated risk for tics among boys was a real standout. Boys who received the highest amounts of thimerosal in the first seven months of life were determined by evaluators to be 2.19 times more likely to have motor tics at age 7-10 years, and 2.44 times more likely to have phonic tics, than boys with the lowest exposures. Any relative risk between exposure and outcome that exceeds 2.0, incidentally, is considered to be proof of causation in US courts of law. The researchers did not differentiate between "transient" tics, which go away within a year, and "chronic" tics, which can last a lifetime. Nor did they distinguish between "simple" and "complex" tics. I know the temptation is strong to think, "Well, it's just tics." But I suggest consulting the literature, which paints a more disturbing picture, especially if it's your kid we are talking about. The Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders defines "simple" motor tics as "brief, meaningless movements like eye blinking, facial grimacing, head jerks or shoulder shrugs," that usually last less than a second. It says that "complex" motor tics cause slower, longer, more intense movements, "like sustained looks, facial gestures, biting, banging, whirling or twisting around, or copropraxia (obscene gestures)." On the phonic side, "simple" tics are called, "meaningless sounds or noises like throat clearing, coughing, sniffling, barking, or hissing." Complex phonic tics include, "syllables, words, phrases, and such statements as 'Shut up!' or 'Now you've done it!' The child's speech may be abnormal, with unusual rhythms, tones, accents or intensities." There is also the "echo phenomenon," (so familiar to autism parents) characterized by "the immediate repetition of one's own or another's words." Coprolalia, meanwhile, is a tic "made up of obscene, inappropriate or aggressive words and statements." Severe behavioral problems are sometimes associated with tics, as well, and "there is some evidence that temper tantrums, aggressiveness, and explosive behavior appear in preadolescence and intensify in adolescence." Finally, many children with both phonic and motor tics are diagnosed with Tourette's disorder, which frequently causes "aggressiveness, self-harming behaviors, emotional immaturity, social withdrawal, physical complaints, conduct disorders, affective disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, stuttering, sleep disorders, migraine headaches, and inappropriate sexual behaviors," the Encyclopedia says. (Interestingly, Tourette's disorder is three-to-four times more common in males than females, the same ratio as autism, ADD and ADHD). Now, if "simple" tics include head jerks and barking; and "complex" tics can entail biting, banging and screaming obscenities; and if thimerosal can more than double the chance of tics in boys; then Atlanta, we have a very big problem. It's perplexing that the CDC can report replicating a doubled risk for tics in boys, and an increased risk for speech disorders and attention and behavior problems in other kids, and still insist that this is all "very reassuring news." I posed the question on the conference call today, and got nothing even resembling an answer (an opinion that was backed up by a producer from ABC News Nightline). So I will ask it again here. Given that the CDC has just reported that thimerosal might increase the risk for tics among boys, how is it possible, in addition, to publish the following two phrases within the same report?: "The findings...suggest a possible adverse association between neonatal exposure to mercury and language development." AND "Our study does not support a causal association between early exposure to mercury...and deficits in neuropsychological functioning.

Since the headline about thimerosal being safe once again, I wanted to post this artlce. I wonder why this didn't get headlines? Gotta love that first sentence. I wonder what they DO consider a smoking gun? http://www.speciation.net/Public/News/2006/03/24/2024.html Although far from the smoking gun that proponents of a thimerosal-autism link seek, the finding suggested that thimerosal exposure could cause dendritic cells to activate "aberrant and harmful immune responses," according to Isaac N. Pessah, Ph.D., and colleagues of the University of California at Davis. They reported the research online in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Mike Thanks for following up on that and posting. As they always say, you have to be careful what you read on the internet. I like to add (in some instances) "and what you're told by your Dr.!"

Faith, I can't remember if it's in the article that's posted or another one, that in some cases the body will attack it's own platelets. I think it said, that a low platelet count was not always a finding. It is an autoimmune reaction. I'm wondering if this could account for the "new platelets," and hence high MPV. My oldest sons was 12.2? I'm not looking at the results right now but it's 12 something. edit Oldest 12.4 youngest 10.9 ref range 6.5-10.5. I can't remember if either had been sick near the time this was done. I guess if platelets are normal, they are keeping up with production, but....... I just wish we had someone with some medical knowledge here. Maybe they would say that this is not unusual in younger people? I know these reference ranges can differ for kids. Maybe repeat testing with high #'s would make it significant? Back to Panda Mom, I guess I was thinking, if her child gets petechias with every strep infection, couldn't this suggest that the platelets are being attacked? Faith, I think the MCV has more to do with hemme/iron? I have a note on copy that says autoimmune, candida and B12 (these are my notes from trying to find info long ago) but I'm not sure if it's written by MPV or MCV Have you found anything on MCV? Mustange Carole......any ideas?

bmom, I'm so sympathetic to what you're going through with your kids and this decision, right now. I hope I haven't discouraged others on the bd. from replying to your question. I would suspect that most (not all) are continuing to vaccinate. I hope they do respond. I would be the last one to be critical of anyone's decision in this regard. I am not anti vax either. I'm just sorry about my lack of knowledge, when I allowed my babies to be immunized. I'm for informed consent. That's all. I would never have become informed, if my boys wouldn't have had tics though, it's that simple. If I were you, I would start with the CDC website. Download the pink book. It gives a lot of information about each disease, virus/whatever. Then use the mothering vax forum. They have people over there that search these subjects daily. I find the threads with published studies to be most helpful. There are some people who a highly educated in this whole topic. You will come to know who they are, in a short time. Use the archive threads at the top of the forum. Read any post you can find by Mom Tazuma/MT... aka Hillary Butler. She was one facinating resource. She hasn't been posting for months, but over a year ago (go back to older pages on the forum) probably close to two, she was SO helpful in educating me! It will be another thing that takes up a tremendous amount of time. I know with small children, it's especially hard, but I really think you will be glad you did. It's just not something we can "undo" once it's done. Use the search thread over there to research the vaxes that your kids are due for now. As we say here, read, read, read. We are only in noncompliance with one vax right now as far as required for shcool. It has been more than 10 years since my youngest son had a tetanus booster. To date he has received 5 doses of several combos of DTP/dtap. Only 3 were required for school, with a dose of TD if it's been more than 10 years from last DTap. I did not get it, and will not be doing so. The TD booster still has thimerosal and I have no desire to further vaccinate him for tetanus anyway. The shot that is being recommended instead of the TD booster, is a newer vax. The theory with this shot is that, by inluding yet another dose of acellular pertussis, they will provide further protection for infants from pertussis. This is being pushed for adults too. If you get a cut, bee sting etc. it's more than likely what you will be given instead of the TD booster. It can be given every 5 years, as opposed to the 10 year recommendation for the tetanus booster. Interesting thing though, read the statement under the 2nd picture in this Ad http://www.vaccineplace.com/index.cfm?FA=p...mp;P=HowS_pread If you don't buy into using this combo vax, how and why, can they make me vax my child for tetanus for school attendance? It's not communicable. Can they require me to make him carry a bullet proof back pack too? Do I want the government telling me I have to inject certain things in my childs body to attend public schools? These are just a few things to consider. You can't make a decision without some serious reseach, and every parent must decide for themselves. I hope I have just given you a little different perspective to keep in mind as you go! You can also Google something like "vacine dangers," it will bring up a lot of sites with literally hundred of links within them. There are also several books you can read. If you have access to a liibrary I have read several times that "A Shot in the Dark" is a good one. I haven't read it. If you need help finding info on something, please ask, and please don't focus solely on thimerosal.

Faith, I think the thing that's interesting about Jenny McCarthy (shes on the cover of this months People) is that she is being allowed to discuss this on TV at all. She has been able to express her concerns about vaccines on Ophra, The View, and Larry King . A Dr. that is treating her son, was on with her. He said he gave his son the MMR at 18 months, and he started regressing. He said his wife made the remark "you broke him, now you fix him." I'm so surprised that she has been able to express these concerns, when it has been so taboo in the past. What changed? Between NO ONE wanting to be the "cause" of a resurgence of a disease, and the TV stations being beholden to Pharma companies who advertise on their networks, it just hasn't be allowed. Their message is not "anti vaccine," Jenny said her message is , that someone should be testing children before they receive so many vaccines at one time. She talks about the "full bucket theory," how clearing candida and the GFCF diet was essential in her sons recovery. you can read the transcripts form Larry King interview at this site http://www.rescuepost.com/rescue_post/ I thought these were helpful http://www.generationrescue.org/pdf/070626.pdf shows what shots were being given in 1983 and what's on the schedule today and this, about some of the people involved the new "safety study" Dr. Thompson reports being a former employee of Merck; Dr. Marcy, receiving consulting fees from Merck, Sanofi Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline, and MedImmune; Dr. Jackson, receiving grant support from Wyeth, Sanofi Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline, and Novartis, lecture fees from Sanofi Pasteur, and consulting fees from Wyeth and Abbott and serving as a consultant to the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee; Dr. Lieu, serving as a consultant to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; Dr. Black, receiving consulting fees from MedImmune, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, and Merck and grant support from MedImmune, GlaxoSmithKline, Aventis, Merck, and Novartis; and Dr. Davis receiving consulting fees from Merck and grant support from Merck and GlaxoSmithKline. No other potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Welcome Sara, Here are two sites that should give you some very helpful info on digestive enzymes. After reading, feel free to ask any remaining questions that you have. http://www.houstonni.com/ http://www.enzymestuff.com/ Sorry to hear your son is not doing as well right now. I hope you can find info here to get things back on track. kim

follow up to above post...... David Kirby's remarks on "new study" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/...s-_b_66007.html thanks to a poster on mothering vax forum

It's funny you would mention biochat. My youngest son, who was not on vits at the time, had a level of 76, which was at low end of normal ref. range stated. It was a biochat Dr. who first said to get it up to at least 90 to 110, I believe. That was not in relationship to Pyroluria, I just gave the background of tics and gave the info on his current (at that time) zinc level. I think that was a very general answer with the info he was given.

Hi Pandas Denmark/All, When you posted this, I knew I remembered something about petechiae. It has always bugged me, that I couldn't get any answer to why both of my boys had elevated MPV in blood work. MPV=mean platelet volume. This was reg. Ped who ordered blood work. He didn't even know what MPV stood for (I'm NOT joking) so I doubt that he realized that this was eleveated in both boys. It is literally a measurement of the size of the platelets. The "newer" the platelets, the larger they will be. So presumeably, my boys had "newer" platelets. This would suggest that they were making new platelets for some reason. Their platelet levels were normal. Now my understanding is, that there may be another autoimmune issue here, although since it would only set off red flags, if it was coupled with an abnormal platelet level, I doubt that anyyone would find it very significant. (unless you were specifically looking for autoimmune issues) If you get a chance, read these articles. Maybe we can discuss it a little more, if anyone else has an interest in this subject. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseas...ITP_WhatIs.html These dots, often seen on the lower legs, are called petechiae (peh-TEE-kee-ay). Petechiae may look like a rash. In most cases, the body’s immune system is thought to cause ITP. Normally your immune system helps your body fight off infections and diseases, but if you have ITP, your immune system attacks and destroys its own platelets—for an unknown reason. http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic987.htm Pathophysiology: Platelet disorders lead to defects in primary hemostasis and have signs and symptoms different from coagulation factor deficiencies (disorders of secondary hemostasis). The body's reaction to vessel wall injury is rapid adhesion of platelet subendothelium. The initial hemostatic plug, composed primarily of platelets, is stabilized further by a fibrin mesh generated in secondary hemostasis. The arrest of bleeding in a superficial wound, such as the bleeding time wound, almost exclusively results from the primary hemostatic plug. Hence, primary hemostatic disorders are characterized by prolonged bleeding time, and the characteristic physical examination findings are petechiae and purpura. In comparison, defects in secondary hemostasis exhibit delayed deep bleeding (eg, muscles and joints) and the characteristic physical examination finding is hemarthrosis. Hemarthrosis and muscle hematomas are not present in primary hemostatic disorders. Autoimmune thrombocytopenias Immune thrombocytopenic purpura Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is one of the most common autoimmune disorders. It occurs in 2 distinct clinical types, an acute self-limiting form observed almost exclusively in children (5 cases per 100,000 persons), and a chronic form, observed mostly in adults (3-5 cases per 100,000 persons) and rarely in children. This disease is caused by autoantibodies to platelets. The antigenic target in most patients appears to be the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex. Platelets with antibodies on their surface are trapped in the spleen, where they are efficiently removed by splenic macrophages. The mechanism of origin of these antibodies is not known. These antibodies may be directed towards the viral antigens and then cross-react with platelet antigens. They persist because of the failure of immune surveillance mechanisms to repress these antibodies. These antibodies can also react with the developing megakaryocytes in bone marrow, leading to decreased protection of platelets (ineffective thrombopoiesis