Evaluation of Pediatric Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) Cases and Risk Factors for Chronic ITP- Single Center Experience

Abstract

Aim: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the most common acquired bleeding disorder in childhood. The study aimed to assess the demographic and clinical characteristics, and treatment responses and to evaluate their effects on chronicity in pediatric ITP cases. Material and Methods: Primary ITP patients aged 1 month to 18 years, who were diagnosed and followed up in the Pediatrics Clinic of Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University Hospital between January 2010 and December 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Thirty-eight patients with a diagnosis of primary ITP were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 94.3 +/- 53.4 (14-199) months. The female/male ratio was 1. Twenty (57.1%) patients had acute ITP, and 15 (42.9%) patients had chronic ITP. There was no significant difference between the acute ITP group and the chronic ITP group in demographic, clinical features, laboratory findings, and treatment responses. In the first 12 months, the number of admissions with a platelet count of <20 000 /mm(3), the number of admissions requiring treatment, and the rate of treatment given during follow-up were significantly higher in the chronic ITP group (p=0.001, p=0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: To be aware of the risk factors for the development of chronic ITP will lead to the identification of high -risk patients, decisions about treatment and follow-up, and prevent unnecessary interventions and anxiety that may occur in the patient and his/her family. According to the results of this study, frequent relapses in the first year after the diagnosis of ITP may be considered a marker for chronic ITP.