Blood Disorders Research

Immune (Idiopathic) Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) is a platelet incompatibility between the parents that affects the fetus. Dr. James B. Bussel has developed IV gamma globulin and Anti-D treatments for patients with ITP and prepared national guidelines for the management of this disease. Treatment can be given to mothers during pregnancy to increase the platelet count in the fetus, prevent a fetal brain hemorrhage, and allow for a healthy baby to be born whose thrombocytopenia will then disappear within weeks. Dr. Bussel is currently investigating the role of thrombopoietin treatment for patients with refractory ITP.