title: Long-term follow-up study of children with chronic ITP.
abstract: A total of 126 children with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, including 35 splenectomized cases, were investigated in a long-term follow-up study, with regard to residual hematologic and immunologic abnormalities, complications and physical growth. Such hemorrhagic symptoms as petechiae, ecchymosis and epistaxis were still observed in about 22%-28% of the patients with a period of morbidity ranging from 3 to 15 years after onset. Residual thrombocytopenia below 150,000/microliters was found in 62% of patients within 5 years, 59% within 5 to 9 years and 57% within 10-14 years after onset. Other abnormalities were mild anemia, low serum level of IgA or IgM, positive antinuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, and positive Coombs test in a small number of patients. Increased platelet-associated IgG was still obtained in patients with subnormal platelet counts whose morbid periods were 6 to 27 years after onset. Investigation of the patients by questionnaire revealed such complications as obesity, striae atrophicae, abdominal pain, headache, cataract, Perthes' disease, and cardiac complication in some patients. No apparent disturbances except for obesity were observed in their physical growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Daisan Hospital, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akatsuka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishidoya
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsukimoto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsujino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakahata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006128:Growth; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D010976:Platelet Count; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*