CAREGIVER RESOURCES & FAQS

People with ITP don’t normally have a family history of thrombocytopenia (or low platelet counts), but if your child does, you should let your doctor know so a possible genetic link can be considered.

No, ITP is a blood disorder and an autoimmune condition in which your child’s immune system attacks the platelets in their body.

While both hemophilia and ITP are bleeding disorders, ITP is not a form of hemophilia. Hemophilia is an inherited condition, while ITP is an autoimmune disorder. Both conditions are similar in that they affect the body’s ability to clot.

Yes, ITP is an autoimmune condition. When your child has immune thrombocytopenia, their immune system attacks the platelets in their body, leaving your child’s platelet count low.

Typically, ITP is treated by pediatric hematologists, who specialize in treating blood disorders. ITP may also be treated by pediatric oncologists who specialize in hematology. These hematologist oncologists, or “Hem Oncs,” treat children with blood disorders like ITP and people with cancers associated with blood.

In children, ITP is often a newly diagnosed—or acute—condition and can go away on its own. However, ITP can also turn into a persistent or chronic disorder that is lifelong once diagnosed. With a care team and treatment plan, your child’s ITP can be managed to reduce signs and symptoms.

ITP is categorized based on the length of time with the condition. Newly diagnosed—sometimes also called “acute”—is from the time of diagnosis to 3 months, persistent is from 3-12 months, and chronic is having ITP for longer than a year.

Newly diagnosed/acute ITP is found more commonly in children. About 70% of childhood ITP cases resolve on their own, usually within 6 months, but a small percentage can progress to a persistent or chronic condition.

Doptelet and Doptelet Sprinkle are not used to treat acute ITP.

There are a few different types of treatment for ITP that all aim to raise platelet counts to a level that helps lower the risk of bleeding. The most common are corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs), and splenectomies. This is not a complete list of treatments. Talk to your child’s doctor to understand all of your options and see what might work for them.

You can also learn more about these treatments here.

With Doptelet or Doptelet Sprinkle, your child may experience side effects.

Serious side effects

Doptelet or Doptelet Sprinkle may cause serious side effects including blood clots. People with persistent or chronic ITP and people with certain blood clotting conditions may have an increased risk of developing blood clots. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get signs and symptoms of a blood clot, including:

• Swelling, pain, or tenderness in their legs
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Fast heartbeat
• Stomach (abdominal) pain or tenderness

Common side effects

The most common side effects of Doptelet or Doptelet Sprinkle in children with persistent or chronic ITP are viral infection, runny nose, cough, fever, and pain in the mouth or throat.

These are not all the possible side effects of Doptelet and Doptelet Sprinkle. Talk to your child’s doctor if any side effect bothers your child or does not go away.

What food your child eats, and when, does not impact the effectiveness of their treatment with Doptelet or Doptelet Sprinkle. Food is required when taking Doptelet in tablet form, and soft food or liquid is required when taking Doptelet Sprinkle.

Recommended soft foods to take with Doptelet Sprinkle: applesauce, strawberry jelly, or yogurt (plain)

Recommended liquids to take with Doptelet Sprinkle: milk (whole or skim), orange juice, pediatric electrolyte solution (unflavored), or water

Remember, your child should take treatment as directed by their doctor. Before starting Doptelet or Doptelet Sprinkle, tell your child’s doctor about all the medicines they take, as their doctor may adjust the starting dose.

Both Doptelet and Doptelet Sprinkle are TPO-RAs. Doptelet tablet is indicated for patients 6 and older and should be taken whole, with any food. Doptelet Sprinkle oral granules are indicated for patients 1 year to less than 6 years and must be mixed into a soft food or liquid.

Recommended soft foods to take with Doptelet Sprinkle: applesauce, strawberry jelly, or yogurt (plain)

Recommended liquids to take with Doptelet Sprinkle: milk (whole or skim), orange juice, pediatric electrolyte solution (unflavored), or water

Doptelet tablets that come in a blister package are not the same dosage form as Doptelet Sprinkle that come in a bottle and cannot be directly substituted for each other.

If your child misses their dose of Doptelet or Doptelet Sprinkle, they should take it as soon as they remember. They should not take 2 doses at once to make up for missing a dose. Your child should take their next dose at their usual time.