The geoepidemiology of immune thrombocytopenic purpura

• Published in: Autoimmunity reviews Vol. 9; no. 5; pp. A342 - A349
• Main Authors: Deane, Sean, Teuber, Suzanne S., Gershwin, M. Eric
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Allergy and Immunology; Animals; Autoimmune thrombocytopenia; Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura; Child; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity - epidemiology; Immune thrombocytopenia; Immune thrombocytopenic purpura; ITP; Pregnancy; Primary immune thrombocytopenia; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic - epidemiology; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic - epidemiology; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic - immunology; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic - physiopathology; Thrombocytopenia - epidemiology; Thrombocytopenia - immunology; Primary immune thrombocytopenia; Immune thrombocytopenia; ITP; Immune thrombocytopenic purpura; Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura; Autoimmune thrombocytopenia
• ISSN: 1568-9972; 1568-9972; 1873-0183
• DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2009.11.020

First described in 1735 (Watson-Williams et al., 1958 [1]), immune-mediated platelet destruction is a phenomenon of protean associations that has historically varied in its definition. Recently, consensus guidelines were proposed for a standardized system of nomenclature that preserves the acronym “ITP” but encompasses a number of causes of immune-mediated thrombocytopenias, including both primary immune thrombocytopenia as well as such entities as thrombocytopenia associated with connective tissue diseases or cancer. In this paper, we will focus on current aspects of geoepidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of adult and pediatric primary immune thrombocytopenia. It is clear that both genetic and extrinsic factors exist for ITP and are likely different between children and adults. Immune thrombocytopenia remains a challenging problem but our understanding of its pathophysiology has greatly improved.