FYI from the NHLBI Index

September 2011: Vol. 12, Issue 2
Constituents' Corner

PDSA Announces September as National ITP Awareness Month and September 30th as "Sport Purple for Platelets Day"

PDSA Announces September as National ITP Awareness Month and

September 30th as "Sport Purple for Platelets Day"

The Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA) is pleased to announce the inclusion of National ITP Awareness Month and Sport Purple for Platelets Day in the 2011 National Health Observances Calendar. PDSA requested the National ITP Awareness Month designation to increase the public's understanding of ITP and other platelet disorders and to let patients and their families know that there are resources and support available to help them have the best possible outcomes and that they are not alone.

Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease in which the body mounts an immune attack toward platelets that are required to maintain integrity of blood vessel walls and for blood to clot. Chronic ITP is perhaps the most common bleeding disorder. It affects both sexes and all ages and races. The prevalence of Adult ITP in the United States is estimated to be as high as 120,000.

and races. The prevalence of Adult ITP in the United States is estimated to be as high as 120,000. PDSA is currently coordinating and promoting ITP Awareness Month initiatives, including Sport Purple for Platelets Day on September 30, 2011, PDSA's National Walk/Run: Pump It Up For Platelets! - for a world free of ITP, and other awareness events.

For more information, visit our Web site at www.pdsa.org or contact Nancy Potthast at potthast@pdsa.org.

Submitted by Nancy Potthast, Director of Marketing, Platelet Disorder Support Association

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