Immune thrombocytopenic purpura in children: diagnosis and management

Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a peripheral destruction of platelets. It represents the most common cause of thrombocytopenia in children. However, it is a diagnosis of exclusion. ITP is a benign disorder which evolves towards healing in 80% of the cases. Management of newly diagnosed ITP may be based on therapeutic abstention or first-line treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins or corticosteroids. Chronic ITP management depends on the severity of hemorrhagic symptoms and its consequences on quality of life. It includes watch and wait strategy, intravenous immunoglobulin, corticosteroids, splenectomy and second-line treatment as immunosuppressants and thrombopoietin receptor agonist (Eltrombopag) which was licensed for children since 2016.