ICIS – Intercontinental Cooperative ITP Study Group

We are an academic research group, internationally well-connected and based in Basel.  Since 1997, we are committed to promoting research and education on immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) – a bleeding disorder – at both national and international levels. At the same time, we are dedicated to improving the care of patients of all ages affected by ITP.

What is ITP?

• ITP is an acquired disorder that can occur in children, adolescents, and adults, in whom the immune system mistakenly destroys its own platelets (also called thrombocytes). This process is called autoimmunity. Since platelets are essential for blood clotting and vessel wall integrity, a severe deficiency of platelets may lead to serious bleeding.
• ITP sometimes develops after an infection, such as the flu or COVID-19. However, its exact cause remains largely unknown, which is typical for ITP and all other autoimmune diseases. The reason(s) why the immune system loses the ability to recognize parts of the own body, e.g. platelets, is also not known.
• Examples of other autoimmune diseases include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and many more.

Symptoms of Low Platelet Counts

• Bleeding: could be either spontaneous bleeding, i.e. without injury, such as bruising, small pinpoint skin bleeding, nosebleeds and gum bleeding, or injury-induced bleeding (accidents, surgery). There are bleedings necessitating a therapy, or they may be carefully watched without therapy.
• Reasons for bleeding: Bleeding is not limited to a low platelet count, there are many other reasons why bleeding occurs, such as injuries, infectious diseases, inherited disturbances of blood clotting and drugs.
• Other symptoms than bleeding: A low platelet count may also interfere generally with the body and result in fatigue, and it may affect the quality of life.

Why is the Disease Unpredictable?

• The diagnosis cannot be definitively confirmed and must always be reassessed because the reason(s) causing ITP is frequently unknown. One in five adults has an underlying condition that only becomes apparent over time (e.g. malignancy, immunodeficiency).
• The course of the disease varies widely—in children ITP disappears in approximately 80%, but it may persist during years. Some people have mild symptoms, while others are at high risk of bleeding without any apparent reason for this difference.
• Platelet counts can fluctuate significantly, and a sudden drop can occur without warning.

Treatment Options and the Need for Monitoring

• Medications such as corticosteroids, immunoglobulins often help in emergency situations—but not always.
• In recent years, there are newer drugs, which may be given when corticosteroids or immunoglobulins do not help anymore, such as platelet production stimulators (thrombopoietin-receptor agonist), and others.
• In severe cases, spleen removal or immunosuppressive therapy, similar to cancer treatment, may be necessary, if the above mentioned drugs do not induce a platelet response.
• Regular clinical visits and measures to exclude other reasons for bleeding are essential to support the ITP diagnosis and to prevent dangerous situations.

Why Donate?

Our activities are funded by private donations and support from the industry. To secure and further develop Switzerland’s strong research tradition in ITP, we are urgently dependent on donations.

Every donation will help us to improve the care of ITP patients and advance groundbreaking research projects, allowing us to develop new treatment strategies and improve patients’ quality of life and ultimately to save lives.

Please donate through the donation platform we trust and support our mission to improve research and care for patients with ITP.

THANK YOU – together, we can save lives! ❤️