Pathophysiology of immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
In 1951, the young hematologist in training, Dr. William Harrington, infused himself with plasma from a patient with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). He rapidly developed severe, but transient, thrombocytopenia and was at risk for serious hemorrhage. Thus, the humoral autoimmune cause of ITP was established. Since 1953, when Dr. Harrington's in vivo studies ended, in vitro investigations have aimed to determine the molecular and cellular details of immune-mediated platelet destruction.
Beardsley
D S
DS
Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. diana.beardsley@yale.edu
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000503:physiopathology*