Shingles prior to ITP Diagnosis

[rjsmyth]

I would be interested in hearing how many of us have had a bout of shingles in the months/years prior to getting diagnosed with ITP. This follows two conversations I have recently had whilst being given IVIG in hospital with fellow IVIG recipients who also had ITP and had had a bout of shingles prior to diagnosis. Is there a link?

[scaryteacher]

Just had shingles over 20 years after being diagnosed with ITP. Had bloods done to see what the anti vitals had done to my platelets, as that's one of the side effects, but that hadn't made a difference. What was interesting is that I have low levels of vitamin D, which does have a link to auto immune disease.

[Heath21]

I haven't had shingles. Whilst being treated for my recent (second) sudden drop of platelets, my flu and shingles jabs were due. Once my platelet levels were in the normal range, I had flu jab, but have been advised not to have the shingles one.

[RobertSp]

The classic theory was that exposure to any antigen, viral or enviromental, can get the immune system to start making antibodies that mistake blood platelets for the original antigen. Once this is triggered there is no known method to turn it off. I think this theory is too simplistic and does not account for all of observations about ITP: eg. the hereditary factor in auto immune diseases

[scaryteacher in reply to RobertSp]

Mine was triggered by being pregnant. Giving birth didn't make it go away.

[Morgan]

I have never had shingles or chickenpox. Mine was probably triggered by food poisoning but my father also had a history of haemorrhaging.

[Rafiq]

I understand that some haematologists think there may be a connection between steroid and shingles in some people. Why some people and not others is not clear.

[NickyD]

I had shingles after being diagnosed with ITP.