title: Importance of immature platelet fraction as predictor of immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a clinical syndrome in which a decreased number of circulating platelets (thrombocytopenia) manifests as a bleeding tendency, easy bruising (purpura) or extravasation of blood from capillaries into skin and mucous membranes (petechiae). The diagnosis of ITP can be made clinically on the basis of symptoms, we need to see if ITP can be confirmed in patients by quantification of residual RNA containing immature platelets (megakaryocytic mass) or immature platelets fraction (IPF) using automated hematology analyzers (Sysmex XE-2100).
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to check the efficacy of IPF% parameter of Sysmex XE-2100 a total of 231 patients of thrombocytopenia were included in this study. Complete blood count (CBC) was estimated. The data was statistically analyzed by SPSS version 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 62 patients were diagnosed as ITP and 169 patients were diagnosed as non ITP on the basis of clinical history. The mean IPF % value of ITP patients was 16.39% and the IPF % value of Non ITP patients was ~7.69% respectively. There was no significant difference in IPF% values with respect to time between sampling and acquisition of complete blood count. The diagnostic sensitivity of IPF% as biomarker for ITP and non-ITP was 85.71% (95%CI: 84.04% to 85.96%) and 41.76% (95% CI: 39.87% to 43.65%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean IPF % value by Sysmex XE-2100 can be used to predict ITP.
authors.affiliation: Arshi Naz, Ph.D. National Institute of Blood Disease and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Arshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.affiliation: Samina Naz Mukry, Ph.D. National Institute of Blood Disease and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Samina Naz
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Mukry
authors.affiliation: Mahwish Rauf Shaikh, M.Sc. Jinnah University for Women, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mahwish Rauf
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.affiliation: Ali Raza Bukhari, M.Sc. National Institute of Blood Disease and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ali Raza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bukhari
authors.affiliation: Tahir Sultan Shamsi, FRCPath. National Institute of Blood Disease and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tahir Sultan
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Shamsi
keywords: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP); immature platelet fraction (IPF)