Mahitap Hossam: What the Platelet Count Cannot Show in ITP
Mahitap Hossam, Medical Science Liaison Hemophilia and Rare Blood Disorders at Sanofi, shareda post on LinkedIn:
“September is ITP Awareness Month. Let’s shine a light on what a platelet count can’t show.
Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) is often reduced to a single value: the platelet count.
It’s used to diagnose, guide treatment decisions, and measure response. But anyone who works with or cares for ITP patients knows that number tells only half the story.
Behind the scenes, complex immune events drive symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, and brain fog which explains why patients often feel unwell even when their count looks ‘fine.’
ITP goes far beyond platelets and may look like:
- Unexplained bruising and petechiae
- Gum bleeding and persistent nosebleeds
- Heavy menstrual bleeding that dictates daily life
- Bone-deep fatigue and brain fog that rest doesn’t fix
- The constant, quiet anxiety of the next bleed
These symptoms don’t always align with the numbers. A ‘stable’ count can mask a reality that feels anything but that.
To the healthcare community: When you check in on someone with ITP, look past the numbers. Ask how they are really doing.”
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