The parents of a 6-year-old child with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) ask the nurse, "What causes this disease?" Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
A. "ITP is primarily an autoimmune disease in that the immune system attacks and destroys the body's own platelets, for an unknown reason."
B. "ITP is a serious bleeding disorder characterized by a decreased, absent, or dysfunctional coagulation."
C. "ITP occurs when the body's iron stores are depleted due to rapid physical growth, inadequate iron intake, inadequate iron absorption, or loss of blood."
D. "ITP is characterized by the loss of surface area on the red blood cell membrane."