title: Autoimmunity and novel therapies in immune-mediated thrombocytopenia.
abstract: Immune-mediated thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is recognized as a cell-specific autoimmune disorder, yet, multifactorial in origin. The development of thrombocytopenia is well proven to be mediated by both humoral (anti-platelet antibodies) and cellular (T-cell) mediated mechanisms. In some cases other autoantibodies are also induced, eg, antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-dsDNA, and anti-cardiolipin, in addition to anti-platelet antibodies. The persistance of these autoantibodies during the course of ITP could herald future development of another autoimmune disease, eg, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS). Due to the better understanding of the pathophysiology of ITP, new novel therapies were introduced aiming to achieve long-lasting remissions. In this review we will focus on the autoimmune nature of the disease and on some of the mechanisms of action of these new therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine A, Bnai-Zion Medical Center. The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yehudai
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toubi
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
authors.forename: Zahava
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vadasz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*