Current management issues of childhood and adult immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

The management of acute and chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) of children differs in many aspects from that of adults. Current paediatric and adult treatment options are discussed in this review in the light of the recently published practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ITP issued by a panel of paediatric and adult haematologists on behalf of the American Society of Hematology. Uncontrolled rather than controlled randomized studies often represent the basis for treatment decisions. Important issues in improving the management of patients with ITP include the identification of research priorities resulting in controlled clinical trials with well-defined study endpoints, the logistics and coordination of research activities and their presentation at international meetings.     

High-Dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin as Single Therapy in a Child with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Between 1975 and 1992 450 children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were diagnosed, and of those 100 (22%) developed the chronic form of the disease. Approximately half the patients with chronic ITP presented with mild to moderate hemorrhagic manifestations at the onset of purpura (30 cases) andlor later during the course of the disease (25 cases). The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage was 1 %, and the mortality rate due to overwhelming septicemia after splenectomy was also 1%. Overall one-third of the patients received no therapy; two-thirds of them went into spontaneous remission within 8 months to 8 years from the onset of ITP. Steroids given in conventional or high doses (51 cases) achieved a transient (if any) rise in platelet count, but in no case were steroids curative. Remission related to intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy was noticed in 38.5% of the children (10 of 26) after variable courses. The response rate to splenectomy was 95.0%. Ultimately the long-term outcome in children with chronic ITP was as follows: remission, 58 cases (spontaneous, 30; after IVIG therapy, 10; after splenectomy, 18); hemostatic platelet values, 22 cases (spontaneous, 16; after IVIG, 5; after splenectomy, I). Thirteen children were lost in follow-up, and 7 remain thrombocytopenic but asymptomatic. These data indicate that chronic ITP in childhood runs a benign course in most cases and may remit with or without therapy euen several years from onset. Therefore, therapeutic intervention has to be individvalized, and splenectomy, which is not always safe, should be reserved for problematic cases that fail to respond to conventional therapeutic modalities.     

Oral Megadose Methylprednisolone Versus Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Acute Childhood Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Twenty children with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were randomized to receive either oral megadose methylprednisolone (MDMP) or intravenous immunoglobulin G (IV IgG). Normal platelet counts (150 × 10⁹/l) were obtained in 6 patients of each group in 3 days and in 8 and 9 patients treated with oral MDMP and with IV IgG within 1 week, respectively. It is concluded that oral MDMP could easily be used for the early elevation of platelet counts, which is important for ITP treatment.     

特发性血小板减少性紫癜患儿糖皮质激素受体研究

目的探讨糖皮质激素受体(GR)在特发性血小板减少性紫癜(ITP)儿童外周血淋巴细胞的表达与临床意义。方法采用流式细胞术分别测定17例急性ITP、23例慢性ITP和20例正常儿童细胞内受体(iGR)与膜受体(mGR)水平。结果ITP组mGP和iGR水平均高于正常儿童组(P<0.01),急性ITP组和慢性ITP组间mGR差异无显著性(P>0.05),急性ITP组iGR水平高于慢性组(P<0.05)。结论mGR、iGR均可能在ITP的发病机制中起重要作用,iGR的表达可能更重要;iGR低者更易发展成慢性患者,iGR水平可作为预测ITP预后的一项参考指标。     

Childhood ITP: 12 months follow-up data from the prospective registry I of the Intercontinental Childhood ITP Study Group (ICIS)

BACKGROUND: Acute and chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is traditionally based on the duration of thrombocytopenia at the cut-off point of 6 months after diagnosis. Registry I evaluated the diagnosis, definition, management, and follow-up of childhood ITP. This report focuses on children with thrombocytopenia persisting more than 6 months. PROCEDURE: Data were collected by questionnaires to the physicians caring for children with ITP, at diagnosis, 6, and 12 months later. Data were compared regarding initial features and follow-up with emphasis on children with persistent thrombocytopenia, and those with ITP who recovered their platelet counts between 7 and 12 months from diagnosis. RESULTS: At 12 months from diagnosis, 79 of 308 (25.6%) evaluable children recovered from ITP and 229 had ongoing ITP. Children with recovered ITP were younger than children with ongoing ITP (P = 0.043) and exhibited a lower frequency of bleeding symptoms during the first 6 months after diagnosis (P = 0.018). Frequency of hospitalization, bone marrow aspiration, and drug treatment differed regionally. CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of recovery from ITP between 7 to 12 months demonstrates, that the cut-off point of 6 months for the definition of chronic ITP does not adequately differentiate chronic from acute ITP. The majority of children with ITP have variable time to recovery with gradual improvement of platelet counts and disappearance of bleeding signs. ITP is a heterogeneous disorder with a diverse natural history and diverse pattern of treatment response.     

儿童免疫相关性疾病的常规免疫学指标研究

目的比较特发性血小板减少性紫癜(ITP)、过敏性紫癜(HSP)及皮肤黏膜淋巴结综合征(KD)的常规免疫学指标变化及静脉注射免疫球蛋白(IVIG)的应用。方法用流式细胞仪测T细胞亚群,免疫比浊法测免疫球蛋白(Ig)及补体。常规加IVIG治疗。结果ITP患儿CD3 CD4 T细胞降低并IgG升高;HSP患儿IgA升高伴CD3 T细胞增高。KD患儿CD3 CD8 T细胞降低。IVIG可明显改善3种疾病临床症状,尤其有助KD患儿冠状动脉损害发生率减少。结论T细胞亚群、lg 应作为ITP、HSP及KD的常规检查项目。早期应用IVIG对改善预后及缩短病程有重要意义。     

Hospitalization of children with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura – is it necessary?

OBJECTIVE:

To identify a target group of children with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) that may not require hospitalization for management.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review was conducted of all children admitted over a two-year period to a tertiary care paediatric hospital with the diagnosis of acute ITP. Patients were classified according to typical and atypical presentations. Typical patients were defined as those aged between one and 10 years, with no hepatomegaly or significant splenomegaly and who had typical laboratory features for ITP. Patients who did not meet these criteria were categorized as atypical. Outcome measures included length of stay (LOS) in hospital; frequency of bone marrow aspiration (BMA); type of treatment; incidence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or severe bleeding; and admission and discharge platelet counts.

RESULTS:

There were 74 patients hospitalized for a mean of 3.6 days. No patients suffered an ICH or bleeding requiring transfusion. Patients with typical presentations (42) were compared with patients with atypical presentations (32) and were not significantly different for clinically important outcomes such as admission and discharge platelet counts, serious complications or type of therapy. Typical patients had significantly fewer BMAs than did atypical patients – 22 of 42 (52%) versus 25 of 32 (78%) (P=0.02), and a shorter LOS – 3.1 (±0.9) days versus 4.2 (±1.8) days (P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Children presenting with ITP have a low incidence of bleeding complications and many of these patients can be managed as outpatients. A multicentre study is needed to properly delineate a low risk group suited for outpatient medical management.     

Epstein-Barr virus associated with immune thrombocytopenic purpura in childhood: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE: Although Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is known to cause immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the epidemiology of this pathogen in children with ITP is not known. In the present study, the clinicoepidemiology and laboratory characteristics of EBV-associated ITP in childhood were analysed retrospectively. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 108 children in whom ITP was diagnosed between 1990 and 1998. Patients were divided into EBV or non-EBV groups according to their serological status at diagnosis. RESULTS: Thirty-five (32.4%) of 108 children had ITP associated with acute EBV infection. The clinical manifestations and laboratory data were similar in children with and without acute EBV. Responses to various modalities of therapy were analysed. The average time to achieve complete remission (platelet count > or =150 x 10(9)/L) in EBV and non-EBV groups was 26 and 16 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of childhood ITP associated with acute EBV infection is relatively high in Taiwan. Patients with EBV-associated ITP tended to resolve more slowly than those without EBV infection.     

High-dose dexamethasone therapy for a 14-month-old boy with refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

A 14-month-old boy with refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), who was successfully treated with pulsed high-dose oral dexamethasone therapy is reported. The platelet count increased after six scheduled courses of treatment (10 mg/day × 4 days, six courses). Twenty-four months later, the platelet count remained over 10.0 × 10⁴/μL. No obvious side effects were observed during or after the therapy. This treatment could be taken into consideration not only for adults but also for young children with refractory ITP. It is effective, safe, easy to administer, patient comfort is taken into consideration, and hospitalization duration and costs are minimized.     

Presence of platelet antibodies in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura may discriminate acute from chronic disease

This study estimated the prevalence of serum antibodies against thrombocyte glycoproteins, at disease onset (54 patients) and later on during the course of the disease (71 patients), in sera from children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Only a minority had serum antibodies at disease onset, with a significantly higher frequency in those who developed the acute form of the disease than in those who developed the chronic form. Serum antibodies may persist after spontaneous cure of acute disease. There was no switch from immunoglobulin M (IgM) to IgG antibodies over time. CONCLUSION: The pathogenesis of the acute and chronic forms of ITP may be different.     

儿童难治性特发性血小板减少性紫癜的治疗进展

特发性血小板减少性紫癜(ITP)是一种自身免疫性疾病,是临床最常见的出血性疾病.治疗以糖皮质激素、免疫抑制剂、脾切除等非特异性手段为主,但副反应明显,且约1/3的患儿治疗无效,成为难治性ITP.儿童难治性ITP目前尚无特效根治约物及方法,治疗应个体化,治疗选择应根据血小板计数和出血状态而定.近年对ITP自身免疫发病机制的深入研究令许多新的定向免疫干预措施开始进入临床研究阶段,实施定向免疫干预将是今后ITP诊疗的方向.文章结合ITP的发病机制对这些进展作一概述.     

Recurrent immune thrombocytopenic purpura in children

Recurrent immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is defined as the recurrence of ITP after at least 3 months of remission sustained without treatment. Among 340 children with ITP, 14 had recurrent ITP (4.1%). Ten were females. The initial course was acute in 8 patients and chronic in 6. The median time to recurrence was 33 months (range 4-120). Only 1 patient had a second recurrence. Twelve (86%) achieved complete (n = 10) or partial (n = 2) remission, two of them after splenectomy. One patient continued to require treatment at 10 months from recurrence. One child died of intracranial hemorrhage despite aggressive treatment including splenectomy and craniotomy.     

The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in children with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura

The outcome of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is classified as acute or chronic depending on whether platelet count returns to normal. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection increases with age and is independent of gender. We investigated the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Chinese children from Northern Taiwan and analyzed the association between H. pylori infection and acute ITP. Our prospective cohort studies found no statistically significant relation between H. pylori infection and acute ITP. There is therefore no indication to screen children with presumed acute ITP for H. pylori infection.     

Post‐varicella thrombocytopenic purpura

Aims: The aim of the study was to characterize the clinical course of post‐varicella idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and to asses the risk of acquiring ITP after varicella infection. Methods: A retrospective study of all children diagnosed with ITP in a tertiary medical centre during 1998–2008. Findings were compared with the Intercontinental Childhood ITP Study Group database. The risk of acquiring ITP after a varicella infection was assessed. Results: Ten children were diagnosed with post‐varicella ITP. The incidence of post‐varicella ITP was 1.9% amongst children diagnosed with ITP and 1.1% amongst children hospitalized for varicella. ITP was diagnosed, on average, 8.5 days after the onset of the varicella rash. The female‐to‐male ratio was 1:1.5. The average minimal platelet count was 9.5 × 10⁹ platelets/L. Post‐varicella ITP had an acute course in 80% of cases and a chronic course in the remaining 20%. Bleeding episodes occurred in three patients. During the follow‐up period, 11 patients with previously diagnosed ITP developed varicella. The infection had no apparent affect on the platelet count of the children with acute ITP, but caused a relapse in 71% of the patients with chronic ITP. Conclusions: Post‐varicella ITP has similar clinical features and course to non‐varicella associated ITP. The calculated risk of ITP as a complication of varicella infections is approximately 1:25 000.     

Retrospective evaluation of long-term efficacy and safety of splenectomy in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children

Aim: To review the long-term efficacy and safety of splenectomy in children with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (cITP). Patients and methods: Data from 33 splenectomized children were retrospectively analysed (median follow up period: 18.8 y from the removal of the spleen). The median age of children at splenectomy was 12 y and the median ITP duration 3.3 y. Indications for splenectomy were: persistent severe thrombocytopenia with extensive purpura, epistaxis and/or gum bleeds, menorrhagia (n = 5) and severe or recurrent haemorrhage from various sites (n = 11). Results: Eighty-five per cent of the patients showed an excellent (n = 26) or partial response to splenectomy. Five children (15%), all females, failed to respond. Of the responders, 25% experienced a transient recurrence of thrombocytopenia within 6 mo to 4 y from splenectomy. The mortality rate due to severe sepsis was 3%. However, the majority of the splenectomized patients have not so far suffered any severe or mild bacterial infection, despite incomplete vaccination and/or antibiotic prophylaxis.

Conclusion: Splenectomy remains the only effective therapeutic modality for children with cITP, although it is associated with transient recurrence and rarely with post-splenectomy sepsis, which could be fatal. Nonetheless, splenectomy should be the last treatment option for the cITP patient, after all available therapeutic modalities have been exhausted and the child still remains profoundly thrombocytopenic and symptomatic.     

RECURRENT IMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA IN CHILDREN

Recurrent immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is defined as the recurrence of ITP after at least 3 months of remission sustained without treatment. Among 340 children with ITP, 14 had recurrent ITP (4.1%). Ten were females. The initial course was acute in 8 patients and chronic in 6. The median time to recurrence was 33 months (range 4–120). Only 1 patient had a second recurrence. Twelve (86%) achieved complete (n = 10) or partial (n = 2) remission, two of them after splenectomy. One patient continued to require treatment at 10 months from recurrence. One child died of intracranial hemorrhage despite aggressive treatment including splenectomy and craniotomy.     

网织血小板测定对特发性血小板减少性紫癜诊疗的价值

目的　探讨外周血网织血小板 (RP)变化对特发性血小板减少性紫癜 (ITP)的诊断价值及疗效判定。方法　利用流式细胞仪测定ITP(ITP组 )、再生障碍性贫血及白血病 (非ITP组 )及对照组外周血RP百分率 ,并计算其绝对值。结果　ITP组RP百分率明显高于非ITP组及对照组 (P <0 .0 1 ) ,绝对值明显低于对照组 (P <0 .0 1 ) ;非ITP组RP百分率与对照组比较无明显差异 (P >0 .0 5) ,但RP绝对值明显低于对照组 (P <0 .0 1 ) ;ITP组治疗有效者RP百分率明显降低 ,与治疗前比较差异显著 (P <0 .0 1 )。结论　RP百分率及绝对值可反映骨髓血小板生成情况 ,对血小板减少症发病机制判断具有重要意义 ,可作为血小板减少症鉴别诊断的重要指标 ,是确诊ITP诊断依据和疗效判定的监控指标。     

Directions for research in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

All attendees participated in a round-table discussion regarding directions for research in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Suggested areas for study were grouped into five main areas: (i) improved classification of ITP identifying subsets of patients with differing clinical syndromes and response to treatment, and those more likely to have serious bleeding manifestations; identification of patients with reduced thrombopoiesis was emphasized; (ii) studies aimed at elucidating the aetiology and pathophysiology of ITP, with emphasis on distinctions between acute and chronic ITP and between patients responsive or refractory to therapy; these studies focused on measures of humoral and cellular immune dysregulation; (iii) studies of platelet function in ITP, with the intent of defining these abnormalities and correlating them with the clinical manifestations of the disease; (iv) new approaches to treatment, particularly of refractory patients; and (v) a miscellaneous group, which included development of an ITP registry, evaluation of the "burden" of disease, investigation of mood changes in ITP, etc. The discussion was not intended to be all-inclusive, but focused on the content of other talks in this symposium. It is hoped that some of thesesuggestions will be further developed for investigation in multicentre co-operative studies to improve the diagnosis, understanding and treatment of ITP.     

婴幼儿特发性血小板减少性紫癜401例临床特点

目的 分析婴幼儿特发性血小板减少性紫癜(ITP)的临床特点,并比较婴儿与幼儿ITP的疗效.方法 收集401例婴幼儿ITP,均给予激素冲击治疗和静脉滴注免疫球蛋白治疗,疗效判定依据血小板计数的高低和出血症状的改善分为完全缓解、有效、无效.401例婴幼儿ITP按年龄分为婴儿组(≤1岁)和幼儿组(>1～3岁),按病程分为急性(病程≤6个月)和慢性(病程>6个月),对其临床资料进行回顾性分析,应用SPSS 12.0软件进行统计分析.结果 1.婴儿组与幼儿组均为男童比例高,但2组间性别比较差异无统计学意义(χ2=0.682,P>0.05).2.婴儿组入院时血小板中位计数低于幼儿组,差异有统计学意义(Z=2.668,P<0.05).3.婴儿组骨髓巨核细胞增高比例低于幼儿组,差异有统计学意义(χ2=16.322,P<0.001);婴儿组产板巨核细胞中位数低于幼儿组,差异有统计学意义(Z=2.065,P<0.05).4.婴儿组经治疗后血小板计数达到或超过100×109 L-1的时间短于幼儿组,差异有统计学意义(Z=3.542,P<0.001).5.急性患儿入院时血小板中位计数低于慢性患儿,差异有统计学意义(Z=2.100,P<0.05).6.输注血小板患儿的住院时间与未输注血小板患儿相比,差异无统计学意义(Z=1.385,P>0.05).结论 婴幼儿ITP中,男童比例高,大部分无明显诱因,以皮肤黏膜出血为主;婴儿入院时血小板中位计数较低,血小板上升至正常的时间较短,对治疗反应较幼儿好,幼儿急性ITP可以变为慢性;输注血小板并不能缩短ITP患儿的住院时间.     

Comparison of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children between 3 months and 2 years versus 2–5 years

It has been reported that infantile idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has different clinical features than ITP seen in older ages and classification of bleeding sites and grading of bleeding severity can be used in determining the risk of bleeding. In this study, patients with ITP were divided into two groups according to age (<2 years and 2–5 years). The clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment modalities, rate of response and chronicity, bleeding sites, grades of bleeding were compared between each group. No significant differences were established. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:656–658. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.