Epidemiology of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Children

Abstract Background Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a common autoimmune bleeding condition in children that is characterized by a decrease in the platelet count. The aims of this study were to define epidemiologic features of patients with primary ITP who were admitted to Mofid Children's Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in a 5-year period. Methods We retrospectively studied the records of patients aged from 1 month to 13 years, who were admitted with the diagnosis of ITP at our hospital. Demographic and clinical variables such as platelet counts, prescribed medicine and transforming to chronic ITP were studied. Results One hundred and seventy two patients were eligible to enter this retrospective study. Mean age was 41.5 (from 1 to 160 months), which 98 were boys (57%) and 72 were girls. 130 (75.6%) and 42 (24.4%) patients had a platelet count less than 25000 and 10000/mm3, respectively. Younger patients significantly had a more severe sign (P=0.04). There was a significant relationship between younger age and chronic ITP (P<0.001. Chronic ITP significantly happened more frequent in girls than boys (P=0.01). Treatment did not have any significant influence on the time to remission, platelet level after one month, or change to chronic ITP. Conclusion This study showed that age Male gender increased the risk of severe disease while female gender was risk factors for transforming into chronic ITP. However, together with others reported from different centers in Iranian may provide a good overview of the epidemiology of ITP in Iran.