ITP is a condition in which the body destroys its platelets prematurely, probably because clusters of HIV fragments and associated antibodies bind to the platelets marking them for destruction by the spleen and other parts of the immune system.
Platelets are a key factor in the body's ability to form blood clots.
IVIG has been one of the more successful and is thought to reduce the ability of the antibody-fragment clusters to bind to the platelets. Infusions are required every several weeks, making standard IVIG prohibitively expensive and somewhat dangerous for long-term therapy. WinRho SD donors are stimulated to produce Ig with especially high levels of specific antibodies so a smaller amount of the product is required. This reduces the cost per infusion by about half. Also, WinRho SD has been treated to inactivate any viral contamination, making it safer to use.