According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, there are some patterns of syndrome that lead to thrombocytopenic purpura.
1. Blood Attacked by Hyperactivity of Heat
2. Failure of Qi to Control Blood
3. Hyperactivity of Fire due to Deficiency of Yin  
4. Obstruction of Collaterals by Blood Stasis

This disease can be divided into acute type and chronic type according to the clinical manifestations and courses. Acute type is commonly found in children and the incidence in males is similar to that in females, while chronic type is often seen in young women and the ratio of incidence between males and females is 1: 3 - 4. The severity of hemorrhage varies with the platelet count. In serious cases, there may be intracranial hemorrhage which may cause death.

According to the clinical manifestations, the disease is categorized in TCM as "xue zheng" (hemorrhagic syndrome), "fa ban" (purpura), "pu tao yi" (cyanosis), etc. Its cause lies in heat, toxic substance, blood stasis and deficiency. The major pathogenesis is that hyperactivity of heat and toxic substances or insufficiency of qi and yin forces the blood to move recklessly, resulting in blood extravasating from vessels.