[Diagnosis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has an incidence of 5.8-6.6 per 100,000 adults and represents a frequent cause of impaired cellular haemostasis in clinical practice. Its diagnosis is still one of exclusion, because the diagnostic value of proposed biological markers of the disease has been disputed. The potential contribution of biomarkers both of the autoimmune reaction (leptin, free and cell-bound anti-platelet autoantibodies, specific B cells) and of thrombopoiesis (bone marrow histology, thrombopoietin, glycocalicin, reticulated platelets) to the diagnosis of ITP will be discussed. There is evidence that some of these biomarkers indeed could be useful in the diagnosis of ITP. To cope with the rapid progress in ITP therapy, prospective studies on well characterized cohorts are necessary to allow an efficient and definite diagnosis of this disease.