New progresses in diagnosis and treatment of childhood immune thrombocytopenia--open the new era based on immunologic pathogenesis

Abstract

With advances in medical sciences, immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is gradually regarded as one of diseases characterized by underlying loss of immune tolerance. Accordingly, treatment methods and strategy are shifting from traditional clinical experience to targeted therapy on a step-by-step basis. As for chronic and refractory ITP, combination therapy, novel immunological targeting drugs are turning out to be more effective treatment options. With further understanding of ITP pathogenesis, the elucidation of infections in the development of childhood ITP, the realization that ITP is in fact an immunological syndrome, and the distinction of other diseases with ITP-like clinical manifestations, are of great clinical implications. Key words: Immune thrombocytopenia; Child; Immunology