title: Pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia.
abstract: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by antibody-mediated platelet destruction. The platelet, as an accessible target, has made ITP an attractive disorder in the study of autoimmunity. However, the pathogenesis of ITP has proven complex with diverse pre-existing challenges to the immune system in the form of infection, genetic predisposition, underlying autoimmune repertoire, inhibition of platelet production, perturbations of cell mediated affector and effector pathways, sequestered harbors within lymphoid organs, and responsiveness to intervention. This chapter surveys key new insights into the pathogenesis of ITP and attempts to integrate them into a model that may serve as a template for future investigation.
authors.affiliation: Perelman-University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 513A Stellar-Chance Pavilion, 422, Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. Electronic address: dcines@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Douglas B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Cines
authors.affiliation: Perelman-University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 513A Stellar-Chance Pavilion, 422, Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuker
authors.affiliation: The Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science in St. Michael's Hospital, Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Semple
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology