What is the speculated cause of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)?

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) is primarily characterized by an autoimmune response, where the immune system mistakenly targets and destroys the platelets in the blood. This condition can occur following a viral infection or other triggers, but fundamentally, it involves the immune system producing antibodies against the platelets, leading to their destruction in the spleen.

While genetic mutations and infections can play a role in various blood disorders, they are not the primary causes of ITP. Vitamin deficiency can lead to other types of blood disorders, like anemia, but does not directly cause ITP. Thus, the understanding of ITP as an autoimmune condition is critical, and the focus on the immune response highlights why this choice is the most accurate representation of its speculated cause.