Abstract
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a primary autoimmune disorder with a decreased platelet count due to the platelet destruction mediated mainly by the platelet antibodies. Although the disease has been well defined, the exact pathogenetic mechanisms, including the mechanisms of thrombocytopenia and the role of steroids in the treatment have been still far from complete elucidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma concentrations of thrombopioetin (TPO), interleukin 11(IL-11) and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) at diagnosis, and post-steroid recovery period of Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) which has been a primary autoimmune disorder with a decreased platelet count. This was an analytical cross sectional study which was carried out on thirty children with ITP. All patients and controls were subjected to medical history, Physical examination, Laboratory investigations and biochemical markers assays including TPO, IL-11 and sP-selectin, and their concentrations were evaluated in children with ITP at diagnosis and after 3 weeks of the conventional steroid treatment. There was a significant increase in mean plasma levels of TPO, sP-selectin and IL-11 at diagnosis of patients as compared to the control group (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.0001 respectively). However, there was a significant decrease in their mean plasma levels following steroid treatment as compared to their levels before the treatment (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.0001 respectively). There was a significant difference between mean levels of sP-selectin post treatment as compared to the control. Determining the status and kinetics of TPO, IL-11, and sP-selectin, in ITP was helpful for understanding the pathophysiology of the disease.