A prospective comparative study of 2540 infants and children with newly diagnosed idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) from the Intercontinental Childhood ITP Study Group.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze prospectively the impact of age at diagnosis in childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).


METHODS
International registry from June 1997 to May 2001, with analysis of data from baseline and 6-month-follow-up questionnaires.


RESULTS
Data from 2540 patients were analyzed, including 203 infants (7.6%), 1860 children > or =1 to <10 years of age (69.1%), and 477 children and adolescents between > or =10 and <16 years of age (17.7%). The mean platelet count at diagnosis was similar in all three groups, as was the percentage of patients with initial platelet count <20x10(9)/L. The male/female ratio was highest in infants and decreased with age (P=.009). Immunoglobulin therapy was used more often in infants and corticosteroids in patients > or =10 years of age. Follow-up information at 6 months was available for 1742 children (68.6%). Chronic ITP was seen less frequently in infants (23.1%) than in children >10 years of age (47.3%, P<.0001). Intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 3 of 1742 children during the first 6 months after the diagnosis of ITP.


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric patients with ITP from infancy to adolescence exhibit heterogeneity in clinical, demographic, and treatment factors.
Kühne
Thomas
T
Division of Oncology/Hematology, University Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. Thomas.Kuehne@hin.ch
Buchanan
George R
GR
Zimmerman
Sherri
S
Michaels
Lisa A
LA
Kohan
Regina
R
Berchtold
Willi
W
Imbach
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous