Recurrent idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in childhood

Immune thrombocytopenia of childhood responsive to tonsillectomy in the setting of chronic tonsillitis: A case report and literature review

OBJECTIVES

Immune thrombocytopenia of childhood (platelet count <100,000/μL) is the most common cause of thrombocytopenia in children. Patients typically present with bruising and bleeding in the setting of thrombocytopenia. Although it is usually short-lived, some cases persist and are unresponsive to treatment. This can lead to exposure to a variety of treatment regimens including immunosuppressants and splenectomy. The goal of this report is to present a case of chronic ITP of childhood that responded to tonsillectomy addressing the tonsils as a source of chronic infection and inflammation triggering ITP.

METHODS

A 4-year-old male with ITP of childhood presented with enlarged tonsils and obstructive sleep apnea. History and physical were consistent with chronic tonsillitis/adenoiditis including malaise, poor oral intake, congestion, rhinorrhea, tonsil hypertrophy, and lymphadenopathy persisting despite antibiotic therapy. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were performed.

RESULTS

One, six, and eighteen weeks post-operatively the platelet count was 371, 215, and 205 respectively. Although at 12months two relapses had occurred, during the observed period, he had decreased incidence and severity of disease.

CONCLUSION

In around 60% of ITP there is a history of prior infection within the last month but no systemic symptoms at time of diagnosis. Additionally, chronic ITP is characterized by relapses coinciding with infection. This case is unique because the patient had chronic ITP and a clinical history and physical exam concerning for a subclinical, indolent inflammatory process that responded to surgical intervention. Given that chronic ITP exacerbation has been associated with recurrent acute infections it seems probable that chronic tonsillitis could serve as a trigger for relapse or contribute to a prolonged and/or more severe disease course. Therefore, tonsillectomy may result in earlier treatment and/or an altered disease course with avoidance of the expense and morbidity associated with frequent exacerbations and multiple treatment regimens.

Recurrent Immune Thrombocytopenia After Influenza Vaccination: A Case Report

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an isolated autoimmune condition, often preceded by a viral infection. Vaccines, mainly the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, have also been associated with an increased risk of developing the disease. Although some case reports of ITP after influenza immunization in adults have been published, epidemiologic studies examining the role of the influenza vaccine as a trigger of ITP have not conclusively proven causality. We report a child with 3 occurrences of ITP, each within 1 week of receiving the influenza trivalent inactivated vaccine. He recovered fully in-between the episodes, and no further episodes have occurred since discontinuation of seasonal influenza vaccination. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first showing, with high probability, the influenza vaccine as a cause for ITP in a pediatric patient.

The efficacy of different dose intravenous immunoglobulin in treating acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different dose intravenous immunoglobulin for treatment of acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (HD-IVIG) with low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (low-IVIG) for acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were identified using a predefined search strategy. Effective rate, time of cessation of bleeding, time of platelet count beginning to rise, platelet count by the first week of treatment, the number of platelets after 2 weeks of treatment, time of platelet count to reach peak, peak value of platelet count after treatment, side-effects and rate of developing into chronic ITP were extracted and compared by RevMan 4.2.8 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). Thirteen RCTs (646 patients) were identified. Meta-analysis showed that effective rate, time of cessation of bleeding, time of platelet count beginning to rise, platelet count by the first week of treatment, the number of platelets after 2 weeks of treatment, time of platelet count to reach peak, peak value of platelet count after treatment and rate of developing into chronic ITP were not statistically different between the two different treatment administrations. However, low-IVIG was associated with a significantly reduced risk of side-effects {odds ratio (OR) 0.39 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.83]; P = 0.01]. In conclusion, low-IVIG can be performed as effectively as HD-IVIG without increasing the rate of developing into chronic ITP. Furthermore, the low-IVIG regimen can have fewer side-effects than HD-IVIG administration in patients with acute ITP.

[What is the prognosis of chronic immune thrombocytopenia?]

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the characteristics of children with chronic ITP (chronic immune thrombocytopenia) in the Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús (HIUNJ) between 2003 and 2008. To also evaluate whether clinical variables as age, gender, initial platelet count, and treatment have any prognostic significance on the outcome of ITP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were retrospectively collected from 288 patients diagnosed with "Purpura and other haemorrhagic illnesses". Forty-two out of these 288 satisfied the criteria for "chronic ITP".

RESULTS

Ten patients out of 42 (23.8%) achieved remission with splenectomy, and 25 (almost 60%) achieved it without splenectomy (14 were complete remissions and 11 were partial remissions). Eight patients (almost 20% of patients with chronic ITP) had spontaneous remissions between 6 and 12 months from initial diagnosis. None of the clinical variables analysed were related to the outcome of the disease and the prognosis of the disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost 60% of children with chronic ITP achieve remission without treatment regardless of age, gender, initial treatment or platelet count. Splenectomy is one of the treatments with best results; however the high spontaneous recovery rate in children with cITP, the low percentage of bleeding, and the generally benign outcome should encourage delaying this as long as possible. As it is possible to have a remission between 6 and 12 months from the initial diagnosis, the term "chronic" should be reserved for patients with ITP lasting more than 1 year.

Outcome of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children

BACKGROUND

There is paucity of data on long-term probability of remission in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Aim was to study the course and factors influencing remission of chronic ITP. Chronic ITP was defined as thrombocytopenia persisting >6 months following initial diagnosis.

PROCEDURES

Case-records of children with chronic ITP, aged <14 years, were reviewed in this retrospective study (1987-2006).

RESULTS

Two hundred seventy children were followed. Median age at diagnosis was 6 years. Median duration of follow up was 30 months (range 6-166). Isolated thrombocytopenia (even if <10 x 10(9)/L) in the absence of "significant" bleeds, by itself was not considered an indication for drug therapy. Sixty-seven (24.8%) children attained complete remission (CR) over a median period of 18 months (range 7-120). The probabilities of remission at 5 years for males and females were 24% and 39.6%, respectively (P = 0.01). The probability of achieving remission at 10 years in children <8 and > or =8 years was 51.2% and 34%, respectively (P = 0.02). The probability of remission at 5 years for children who received some treatment, versus no treatment was 31.4% and 27%, respectively (P = 0.8). Nine of 18 children, who underwent splenectomy, achieved CR. Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) occurred in 11 (4%) cases. The time of occurrence of ICH from onset of symptoms varied from 6 to 55 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The predicted spontaneous remission rate with chronic ITP was 30% and 44% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Platelet count at diagnosis and the treatment administered did not influence remission outcomes. Age <8 years and female gender were predictors of a favorable outcome.