title: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: beyond consensus.
abstract: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is the most common acquired bleeding disorder encountered by pediatricians. Most children with ITP have minimal bleeding and complete platelet count recovery within weeks to months. Therapy for ITP has ranged from close observation without medical intervention to aggressive management with corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin G, or anti-D immune globulin. The topic of ITP has incited great debate among practitioners, and this debate prompted the development of ITP practice guidelines by the British Paediatric Haematology Group in 1992 and by the American Society of Hematology in 1996. A better understanding of the clinical course of, risk for significant bleeding in, and optimal evaluation and therapy of childhood ITP will require carefully designed, multicenter, clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: The University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, and the Kapiolani Children's Blood and Cancer Center, Honolulu 96826, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Buchanan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007074:Immunoglobulin G