The Relationship between Absolute Lymphocyte Count and Recovery Rate in Children With Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Abstract

Background: Acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in children is a benign and self-limiting disease. This disease is considered chronic ITP when thrombocytopenia persists for more than 12 months. Total leukocyte count (TLC) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) at the time of diagnosis have been suggested as predictors of persistent/chronic ITP. Objectives: The main objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between ALC at the time of diagnosis and the course of the ITP. Methods: In this study, 43 patients diagnosed with acute ITP under the age of 14 years were evaluated. For all patients, a complete blood cell count was performed at the time of admission. ALC at the time of diagnosis was calculated and compared between the recovered and chronic ITP group. Demographic information of patients, including age and sex were also recorded and finally analyzed by SPSS software, version 22 using an independent t-test. Results: Of the patients, 23(53%) were male and 20(47%) were female. The mean age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 3.62±3.39 years. The majority of patients (79%) recovered, while 21% remained in a chronic condition. The mean ALC at the time of diagnosis in the recovered group was 5362±2608 mm³, compared to 3941±1796 mm³ in the chronic ITP group (P=0.13). Conclusions: Although the ALC at the time of diagnosis was higher in the recovered group than in the chronic ITP group, this difference was not statistically significant.

Keywords

• immune thrombocytopenia
• absolute lymphocyte count (alc)
• children