Immune thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a low platelet count and mucocutaneous bleeding. It is defined as a peripheral blood platelet count of less than 100×109/L, and the absence of any obvious initiating and/or underlying cause. The disease in adults is generally chronic, the onset is often insidious, and recently epidemiological data suggests that the incidence in adults is approximately equal for the sexes except in the mid-adult years (30-60 years), when the disease is more prevalent in women. Bleeding after previous surgery, dentistry, and trauma should be considered when estimating the possible duration of chronic thrombocytopenia or an alternative bleeding disorder. The mechanisms of thrombocytopenia in ITP have shifted from the traditional view of increased platelet destruction mediated by auto-antibodies to more complex mechanisms in which both impaired platelet production and T cell-mediated effects play a role. This document aims to report on new data and provide consensus-based recommendations relating to diagnosis and treatment of ITP in adults, while providing a wide approach to treatment. However, treatment related decisions still remain principally dependent on clinical expertise or patient preference, rather than high-quality clinical trial evidence.