Immune thrombocytopenia (previously called idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura) is the less scary and usually not life threatening little sister of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. It is an immune mediated consumptive thrombocytopenia and typically a diagnosis of exclusion.
Mechanism
Production of autoantibodies to platelet components, usually the IIIa complex, is the primary accepted mechanism for ITP. However, it must be said that the pathogenesis is poorly understood.