title: Immunoregulatory abnormalities in children with thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: Twenty-eight children with idiopathic thrombocytopenia and 51 members of their immediate families were studied for immunologic function and expression of autoimmune phenomena and disease. Among patients with active ITP, 64% had defective immunoregulatory lymphocytes. The majority of patients (23/28) and family members had one or more immunologic abnormalities, including autoantibodies, other autoimmune disorders, and abnormalities in complement, immunoglobulins, or regulatory T lymphocytes. These data suggest that a genetic predisposition to autoimmunity is present in the majority of children with ITP.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*