ITP Patients (itp + patient)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Reticulated platelet counts correlate with treatment response in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and help identify the complex causes of thrombocytopenia in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

CYTOMETRY, Issue 4 2007
Anna-Katharina Thomas-Kaskel
Abstract Background: In thrombocytopenic conditions of unknown origin, quantification of reticulated platelets (RP) in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry has been shown to differentiate increased platelet (Plt) turnover from insufficient Plt production. Methods: We used a whole blood flow cytometry method combining thiazole orange and anti-CD41a-staining to assess RP in 71 healthy subjects, six with thrombocytopenic myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), nine with liver cirrhosis, 14 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and 12 patients who had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Results: Patients with MDS had normal, patients with liver cirrhosis had slightly elevated RP counts compared to healthy subjects. ITP patients had elevated RP counts, and RP >15% were associated with treatment response (P = 0.015). In 7/10 patients after HSCT, an increase of RP preceded Plt recovery, whereas in patients with secondary thrombocytopenia after normal regeneration, the assessment of RP allowed the differentiation between conditions with high Plt turnover, such as GvHD and microangiopathy, indicated by high RP counts, and graft failure, indicated by low RP counts. Conclusions: Our data provide the rationale for prospective studies on the diagnostic and prognostic value of RP counts in larger patient populations with ITP and after HSCT. © 2007 Clinical Cytometry Society [source]


Corticosteroid side-effects and risk for bleeding in immune thrombocytopenic purpura: patient and hematologist perspectives

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
Jacqueline A. Guidry
Abstract Objectives:, The purpose of this study was to examine hematologist and patient perspectives about the side-effects of the corticosteroid treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and their perspectives about the patient's risk for bleeding. The specific aim was to compare patient and hematologist perspectives and, if a difference was documented, the implications of that difference. We hypothesized that patients with ITP may have more concern about corticosteroid side-effects and less concern about serious bleeding than hematologists. Methods:, We surveyed 80 patients in the Oklahoma ITP Registry and all 83 hematologists in Oklahoma about the occurrence and severity of 18 corticosteroid side-effects and risks for serious bleeding. Results:, Response rates were 80% (patients) and 71% (hematologists). Responses of patients and hematologists were significantly different from each other regarding both the frequency of severe corticosteroid side-effects and the risk of serious bleeding. For 13 of the 18 corticosteroid side-effects, patients reported more frequent occurrence of severe symptoms than hematologists (P < 0.05); physicians reported more frequent occurrence for one side-effect (P < 0.05). Conversely, 69% and 93% of hematologists reported being very worried about serious bleeding when responding to two case scenarios describing patients with platelet counts of 10 000/,L and 5000/,L (P < 0.05), compared with only 16 (31%) of 51 patients whose lowest platelet count had been <10 000/,L. Conclusion:, Awareness of the different opinions about corticosteroid side-effects and risk for bleeding between ITP patients and hematologists may improve management decisions. [source]


Ursodeoxycholic acid treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with liver dysfunction

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2003
Michiaki Koike
Abstract: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is known to reduce immunoglobulin from B cells and cytokine production from T cells. We found that UDCA increased the platelet count in two idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients who have liver dysfunction. UDCA was tolerated and did not cause diarrhea in the amounts used. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of UDCA in ITP patients. [source]


Plasma-soluble Fas (APO-1, CD95) and soluble Fas ligand in immune thrombocytopenic purpura

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2000
Chie Yoshimura
Abstract: We investigated the levels of various cytokines and soluble factors in ITP patients, in order to determine the influence of these factors on the pathogenesis of ITP. We found increases in IL-2, IL-6, IFN-,, and M-CSF levels in ITP patients compared with those in healthy individuals. On lymphocyte phenotype analysis, we found no clear difference in total T cell population (CD2+ CD19, cells) or cytotoxic T cell frequency (CD8+ CD11b, cells) between these two groups. The frequency of helper/inducer T cells (CD4+ CD8, cells) was decreased in ITP patients. There was a significant increase in activated T cells (CD3+ HLA-DR+ cells) in ITP patients. Furthermore, frequencies of NK cells of potent activity (CD16+ CD56+ cells) were significantly elevated in ITP patients. Seventeen of the 54 ITP patients (31.5%) had elevated levels of sFas, and 11 of the 54 patients (20.4%) of sFasL. In addition, a significant increase of sFasL was observed in sFas-positive ITP patients, and in these patients the sFasL level was correlated with that of sFas (r=0.687, p<0.01). We found significant increases in IL-2 and sIL-2R levels in sFas-positive ITP patients. For other factors examined, however, there were no differences in level between sFas-positive and-negative ITP patients. Percentages of activated T cells (CD3+ and HLA-DR+ cells) and NK cells (CD16+ and CD56+ cells) were significantly higher in sFas-positive ITP patients than in sFas-negative ITP patients. These findings suggests that the pathogenesis of ITP includes alteration of the Fas/FasL pathway. [source]


Indirect study of thrombopoiesis(TPO, reticulated platelets, glycocalicin)in patients with hereditary macrothrombocytopenia

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2000
F. Fabris
To better understand the pathogenesis of thrombopoiesis in this hereditary thrombocytopenic disorder, we determined the percentage of reticulated platelets (RP), plasma glycocalicin (GC) and thrombopoietin (TPO) levels in 29 patients with CHMT, 23 patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and 17 patients with thrombocytopenia secondary to decreased bone marrow megakaryocytes (hypoplasia). The % RP was similar in CHMT (2.27±1.33) and hypoplasia (1.98±1.35) patients and markedly lower than that in ITP patients (8.80±7.97; p<0.001), suggesting that the production of new platelets is reduced in CHMT. Plasma GC was within the normal range (0.84±0.16 ,g/mL) both in patients with CHMT (0.63±0.20 ,g/mL) and ITP (0.82±0.90 ,g/mL), while it was significantly decreased in patients with hypoplasia (0.16±0.04 ,g/mL; p<0.001). When the GC value was normalized for platelet count, the GC index was normal in CHMT patients (2.05±1.1) and in patients with hypoplasia (0.85±0.10) while it was significantly increased in ITP patients (10.88±18.00; p<0.001); thus, patients with CHMT seem to have a normal platelet turnover. TPO was significantly increased in CHMT (195±72 pg/ml) as compared with normal (80±53 pg/ml; p<0.002); however, the mean level was not as high as in ITP patients (345±167 pg/mL; p<0.001). This finding suggests that CHMT syndrome is not secondary to a defective production of TPO and that megakaryocyte mass is nearly normal. [source]


The long-term efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 12 2007
Masaaki Satake
Abstract Background and Aim:, A beneficial effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in patients with H. pylori -positive idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been reported by several investigators; however, it was not clear whether the recovered platelet count after H. pylori eradication was maintained for a long period. Method:, Thirty-eight ITP patients who were examined for H. pylori infection were assessed. H. pylori -positive patients received a standard antibiotic therapy for H. pylori eradication. We investigated the long-term effect of H. pylori eradication on platelet recovery in patients with H. pylori -positive ITP. Results:, Of the 38 ITP patients, 26 (68.4%) were positive for H. pylori. The response rate of platelet recovery was 56.5% (13/23 patients). Twelve patients showed complete response (CR) and one showed partial response (PR). The mean platelet counts 6 months after eradication significantly increased from 31 × 109/L to 129 × 109/L in 23 H. pylori -eradicated patients (P < 0.001). The median platelet counts of responders 1, 2, 3, and 4 years after eradication were 168 × 109/L (n = 10), 193 × 109/L (n = 9), 168 × 109/L (n = 7), and 243 × 109/L (n = 4) after a mean follow-up of 25.8 months. Conclusion:, Eradication therapy for H. pylori -positive patients with ITP was effective and a favorable effect was maintained for long periods. [source]


Evaluation of platelet kinetics in patients with liver cirrhosis: Similarity to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 1 2007
Mikio Kajihara
Abstract Background:, Thrombocytopenia is a common manifestation of liver cirrhosis (LC), but its underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the platelet kinetics in LC patients by examining several non-invasive convenient markers. Methods:, Fifty-seven LC patients, 32 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), 12 with aplastic anemia (AA), and 29 healthy individuals were studied. Plasma thrombopoietin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Absolute reticulated platelet (RP) count and plasma glycocalicin were used as indices for thrombopoiesis, and the indices for platelet turnover were the RP proportion and the plasma glycocalicin normalized to the individual platelet count (GCI). Results:, There was no difference in thrombopoietin levels between LC patients and healthy controls. The RP proportion and GCI were significantly higher and the absolute RP count and glycocalicin significantly lower in LC patients than in healthy controls. These markers in ITP and LC patients were comparable, but significantly different from those in AA patients. The bone marrow megakaryocyte density in LC and ITP patients was similar, and significantly higher than in AA patients. Conclusions:, Cirrhotic thrombocytopenia is a multifactorial condition involving accelerated platelet turnover and moderately impaired thrombopoiesis. Thrombopoietin deficiency is unlikely to be the primary contributor to cirrhotic thrombocytopenia. [source]


Compromised ITAM-based platelet receptor function in a patient with immune thrombocytopenic purpura

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 7 2008
E. E. GARDINER
Summary.,Background:,Receptors on platelets that contain immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) include collagen receptor glycoprotein (GP) VI, and Fc,RIIa, a low affinity receptor for immunoglobulin (Ig) G. Objectives:,We examined the function of GPVI and Fc,RIIa in a patient diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who had unexplained pathological bruising despite normalization of the platelet count with treatment. Methods and Results:,Patient platelets aggregated normally in response to ADP, arachadonic acid and epinephrine, but not to GPVI agonists, collagen or collagen-related peptide, or to Fc,RII-activating monoclonal antibody (mAb) 8.26, suggesting ITAM receptor dysfunction. Plasma contained an anti-GPVI antibody by MAIPA and aggregated normal platelets. Aggregating activity was partially (,60%) blocked by Fc,RIIa-blocking antibody, IV.3, and completely blocked by soluble GPVI ectodomain. Full-length GPVI on the patient platelet surface was reduced to ,10% of normal levels, and a ,10-kDa GPVI cytoplasmic tail remnant and cleaved Fc,RIIa were detectable by western blot, indicating platelet receptor proteolysis. Plasma from the patient contained ,150 ng mL,1 soluble GPVI by ELISA (normal plasma, ,15 ng mL,1) and IgG purified from patient plasma caused Fc,RIIa-mediated, EDTA-sensitive cleavage of both GPVI and Fc,RIIa on normal platelets. Conclusions:,In ITP patients, platelet autoantibodies can curtail platelet receptor function. Platelet ITAM receptor dysfunction may contribute to the increased bleeding phenotype observed in some patients with ITP. [source]


Autoimmune thrombocytopenia: flow cytometric determination of platelet-associated autoantibodies against platelet-specific receptors

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 1 2005
A. TOMER
Summary., Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by antibody-induced platelet destruction. Despite its clinical importance, the diagnosis of ITP is one of exclusion, thus, inevitably associated with potential difficulties. We here describe a feasible diagnostic method using the commonly available technique of flow cytometry. An antigen-specific assay for platelet-associated antibody was developed and tested in 62 adult patients with chronic ITP, 14 patients with thrombocytopenia of decreased production and 60 healthy controls. The method is based on flow cytometric (FCM) detection of autoantibodies reacting with specific platelet receptors immobilized on microbeads. The average fluorescence level in the ITP group calculated as a ratio to normal was 4.07 (range 0.8,31.0), in the non-ITP thrombocytopenic patients 0.9 (range 0.7,1.2), and in the healthy controls 1.0 (range 0.7,1.3). The average assay coefficient of variation was 0.218 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.213, 0.221]. The difference between the ITP patients and both groups was highly significant (P < 0.001), using a stringent non-parametric analysis. A comparison of the FCM assay with the radioactive immunobead assay previously reported on the same cohort of patients showed significant correlation (R2 = 0.71, 95% CI 0.39, 0.53). The overall performance of the FCM assay in discriminating between ITP patients and normals was estimated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plot, showing an area under the curve of 0.96 (maximal value 1.0), with standard error of 0.033. We conclude that the present FCM assay is clinically useful for routine diagnosis and follow-up of ITP. [source]


Cost and mortality associated with hospitalizations in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2009
Mark D. Danese
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is associated with low platelet counts and, consequently, a high risk of adverse events leading to hospitalization. However, there are few data on the clinical and economic burden of hospitalizations for ITP. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database of discharges, a stratified 20% sample of all United States (US) community hospitals across all payers, was used to evaluate discharges in ITP patients. We developed nationally representative numbers of discharges in ITP patients from 2003 to 2006 based on diagnosis codes. Using appropriate weights for each NIS discharge, we created national estimates of average cost, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality for specific groups of ITP-related hospitalizations. Approximately 129,000 discharges occurred between 2003 and 2006 in ITP patients. The average cost associated with all discharges in 2008 dollars was 16,476, with a 6.4-day length of stay and in-hospital mortality of 3.8%. In contrast, the average cost of all hospitalizations in the US population during the same period was 10,039, the average length of stay was 4.8 days, and in-hospital mortality was 2.5%. Mortality risk was higher for ITP patients than for the standard US population adjusted for age and gender, with a relative mortality ratio of 1.5 (95% CI: 1.4,1.6). On the basis of a nationally representative sample of US discharge records from 2003 to 2006, hospitalization with ITP represents an economically and clinically important event. ITP was associated with higher costs, longer stays, and more in-hospital deaths on average than all other hospitalized patients combined. Am. J. Hematol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Repeated courses of rituximab in chronic ITP: Three different regimens,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2009
Aisha Hasan
This study investigated responses to retreatment with rituximab in chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients. Treatment with rituximab in chronic ITP patients induces long-lasting responses in ,30% of patients but even these patients may relapse. Twenty patients who had achieved a response to rituximab and relapsed were retreated with rituximab (375 mg/m2× 4); this data was analyzed retrospectively. Subsequently, 16 patients were prospectively randomized to receive rituximab with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (R-CVP) or double dose rituximab (DDR). Retreatment with standard dose rituximab demonstrated responses similar to initial rituximab treatment in 15 of 20 patients. Neither of the two more intensive regimens (R-CVP, DDR) induced responses in any patient who had previously failed to respond to rituximab nor induced substantially longer-lasting responses among previous responders. No additional toxicity was noted with the DDR regimen, whereas R-CVP was not well tolerated. These results suggest that retreatment with standard dose rituximab induces similar responses in 75% of previously responding patients and is well tolerated. Neither combining rituximab with CVP nor doubling the dose of rituximab increased the response rate. Am. J. Hematol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Interferon-alpha therapy in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2001
Bunyamin Dikici
AbstractBackground: Acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) represents the most frequent hemorrhagic diathesis in childhood. Up to 30% of patients with ITP are regarded as refractory to standard therapy. The rare mortality from acute ITP in childhood is almost exclusively due to intracranial hemorrhage. This complication occurs in less than 1% of ITP patients. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of ,-interferon (IFN-,) in eight patients whom did not respond to conventional therapy. Method: In spite of conventional therapies, the patient whose platelet count could not be increased to 50`109/L were accepted as refractory ITP. Eight of these patients whose platelet count lower than 20`109/L were included in the prospective cohort study. Interferon alpha 2b 5 MU/m2 was administered subcutaneously three times a week, totalling 12 times in a month. According to the platelet count on the 28th day of therapy, we grouped the patients into three categories. After 60 days, the survey was re-evaluated according to the platelet count. Results: The mean age of children was 3.5±2.5 (ranged between 3.5 and 9) years. Six of them were boys and two were girls. There was no response in one patient, partial response in one, and good response in six patients on the 28th day of therapy. The maximum rise in platelet count was observed from 7 to 14 days after the initiation of interferon. The median platelet count which was 15±5`109/L before therapy, raised to 60±12`109/L after therapy. However, on the 60th day of therapy, there were only two patients who had a platelet count over 100`109/L. Conclusion: In our study, we did not observe the long-term benefit of IFN-, therapy in refractor ITP in childhood. However, in good responding patients, platelet levels were increased in a short time. Alpha-interferon may be alternative therapy for patients whom had a platelet count below 20`109/L and not responding to standard therapy, or for patients whom immunosuppressive therapy is contraindicated. [source]


Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the inflammatory cytokine genes in adults with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2004
Takashi Satoh
Summary Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of inflammatory cytokine genes were examined in 84 adult Japanese patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and 56 race-matched healthy controls. The SNPs examined were within the genes encoding tumour necrosis factor (TNF)- , (,238 G/A and ,308 G/A), TNF- , (+252 G/A), and interleukin (IL)-1, (,511 C/T and +3953 T/C). Of these SNPs, the frequency of the TNF- , (+252) G/G phenotype was significantly higher in ITP patients than in healthy controls (21% vs. 7%, P = 0·04, odds ratio = 3·6, 95% confidence interval 1·1,11·1), while no significant association was detected for the other SNPs. The distribution of the TNF- , (+252) phenotype was not associated with human leucocyte antigen class II alleles or the therapeutic response in ITP patients. The frequency of circulating anti-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antibody-producing B cells was significantly higher in ITP patients with the TNF- , (+252) G/G phenotype than in those with the G/A or A/A phenotype (11·9 ± 4·9 vs. 6·8 ± 4·9 and 3·7 ± 2·8 per 105 peripheral blood mononuclear cells; P = 0·02 and P < 0·001, respectively). These findings suggest that the SNP located at TNF- , (+252) contributes to susceptibility to chronic ITP by controlling the autoreactive B-cell responses to platelet membrane glycoproteins. [source]