title: [Immune thrombocytopenic purpura: pathophysiology and treatment].
abstract: Immune thrombopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a peripheral destruction of platelets. B lymphocytes play a key role but pathophysiology is more complex, involving humoral and cellular immunity associated with an inappropriate platelet production. The treatment of ITP is still based on uncontrolled studies. Prednisone and intravenous immunoglobulins remain the first line treatments. Splenectomy remains the best "curative" treatment for adults with chronic ITP. However, most patients are reluctant to undergo surgery and new treatments give promising results. Among them, rituximab and thrombopoietin receptor agonists could replace splenectomy in near future.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Centre de Référence Labélisé de Prise en Charge des Cytopénies Auto-immunes de l'Adulte, 94010 Créteil cedex, France. bertrand.godeau@hmn.aphp.fr
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Godeau
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D053628:Receptors, Thrombopoietin / Q000819:agonists; D000069283:Rituximab; D013156:Splenectomy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D053628:Receptors, Thrombopoietin; D000069283:Rituximab; D011241:Prednisone