Viruses, anti-viral therapy, and viral vaccines in children with immune thrombocytopenia.
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) might be preceded by silent or overt viral infections. Similarly, anti-viral drugs and viral vaccines could also trigger ITP and might play a central role in its pathogenesis. The seasonal nature of childhood ITP suggests that viral infections might initiate immune responses that increase the predisposition and occurrence of ITP. Active cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus should be considered in differential diagnosis when thrombocytopenia is associated with lymphadenopathy, especially with splenomegaly. This review will focus on the specific association of ITP in association with viral disease and vaccinations, and will discuss the effectiveness of current therapies in light of our current understanding of viral-associated ITP.
Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: elalfym@hotmail.com.
Mohsen S
MS
Elalfy
CHOC Childrens Hospital, University of California Irvine, CA, USA.
Diane
D
Nugent
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014765:Viral Vaccines
Anti-viral therapy; ITP; Viral infections; Viral vaccine