Priority 5 from the Bleeding Disorders PSP

UNCERTAINTY: What is the relationship between immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and fatigue? (JLA PSP Priority 5)
Overall ranking 5
JLA question ID 0078/5
Explanatory note

Fatigue is a most common complaint made by patients with ITP. The degree of fatigue varies from patient to patient and in severe cases can be extremely debilitating and can lead to the patients being unable to hold down employment.

There have been many investigations to determine if fatigue is a side effect of ITP, all of which have proved positive. However, there has been no research into what causes fatigue in patients with ITP and the relationship to a reduction of platelets in the blood either due to low platelet production; platelet destruction or the effect of other organs within the body.

Evidence No systematic review. One observational study: Newton, J. L., et al. (2011). "Fatigue in adult patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia." European Journal of Haematology 86(5): 420-429. 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2011.01587.x
Health Research Classification System category Blood
Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples Why is fatigue/tiredness still NOT fully recognised as a symptom of ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia) ? ~ How can the fatigue associated with bleeding disorders be ameliorated or eliminated? ~ Will tiredness ever be properly proven to be a symptom of ITP?
Submitted by  Not available
PSP information
PSP unique ID 0078
PSP name Bleeding Disorders
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP. 66 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 7 July 2018