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.