Initial Lymphocyte Count as Prognostic Indicator for Childhood Immune Thrombocytopenia

Acute ITP is a benign, self-limiting disease. Chronic ITP is diagnosed when thrombocytopenia persists beyond 12 months. The main objective of the present study was to examine whether absolute lymphocyte counts at diagnosis has predictive value with chronic ITP. A total of 601 patients diagnosed as ITP between 1995 and 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. CBCs with differential counts were performed at presentation for 601 patients. Absolute lymphocyte counts at presentation were independently predictive of disease duration. The male to female ratio was almost 1:1 and 25.9 % (156/601) of the patients had chronic ITP. We determined that age >6.75 year, platelet counts >6.950/mm³ and absolute lymphocyte counts ≤2.050/mm³ was associated with a significant risk for developing chronic ITP. Absolute lymphocyte counts at the time of diagnosis were predictive variables for the development of chronic ITP. Further researches are needed to confirm the current finding and to assess the underlying pathophysiology with the course of the ITP in observational studies.