Variables related to chronic immune thrombocytopenia: experience from a single center and comparison to a meta-analysis

Re-evaluate the Prognostic Value of Absolute Lymphocyte Count in Pediatric Immune Thrombocytopenia

To re-evaluate the prognostic value of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in pediatric immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) from the perspective of age. A total of 242 ITP pediatric patients, including 141 newly diagnosed ITP (nITP), 89 chronic ITP (cITP), and 12 persistent ITP, were retrospectively reviewed for this study. These patients were divided into 3 groups according to age (group 1, ≤24 m; group 2, 24-72 m; and group 3, >72 m). The ALC detected at admission was significantly different between nITP and cITP patients without considering their age difference (5.22 vs. 3.55×10 9 /L, P <0.001). However, no significant difference was discovered after age stratification (≤24 m: 6.52 vs. 5.34×10 9 /L, P =0.161; 24-72 m: 3.78 vs. 3.63×10 9 /L, P =0.748; > 72 m: 2.53 vs. 2.40×10 9 /L, P =0.748). ROC analysis showed that the prognostic value of ALC in ITP children was limited (area under curve (AUC): ≤24 m, 24-72 m, and >72 m were 0.591, 0.570, and 0.542, respectively). Analysis of covariance showed there was no significant difference in ALC between nITP and cITP when considering age as a covariate ( P =0.131). Instead, the ROC showing that platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has prognostic value in pediatric ITP independent of age stratification (≤24 m: AUC, 0.688; 24-72 m: AUC, 0.741; >72 m: AUC, 0.680). In conclusion, there was no significant difference of ALC between nITP and cITP patients when stratified by different age groups, and PLR may be an optional prognostic indicator for ITP.

[Expression of thyroglobulin antibody and thyroid peroxidase antibody in children with immune thrombocytopenia]

OBJECTIVES

To examine the expression of serum thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) in children with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

METHODS

A total of 120 children with ITP who were admitted from October 2019 to October 2021 were enrolled as the ITP group. A total of 60 children without ITP were enrolled as the non-ITP group. According to the clinical classification of ITP, the children in the ITP group were further divided into a newly diagnosed ITP group, a persistent ITP group, and a chronic ITP group. The clinical data were compared between the ITP group and the non-ITP group and between the children with different clinical classifications of ITP. The expression levels of serum TGAb and TPOAb in children with ITP were measured and their association with the clinical classification of ITP was analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with the non-ITP group, the ITP group had significantly lower levels of CD3+, CD4+, and platelet count (PLT) and significantly higher levels of CD8+, TGAb, and TPOAb (P<0.05). The children with chronic ITP had significantly lower levels of CD3+, CD4+, and PLT and significantly higher levels of CD8+, TGAb, and TPOAb than those with newly diagnosed ITP or persistent ITP (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, TGAb, and TPOAb were the influencing factors for chronic ITP (P<0.05). A decision curve was plotted, and the results showed that TGAb combined with TPOAb within the high-risk threshold range of 0.0-1.0 had a net benefit rate of >0 in evaluating the clinical classification of ITP in children.

CONCLUSIONS

TGAb and TPOAb are abnormally expressed in children with ITP and are associated with the clinical classification of ITP in children.