Idiopathic thrombocytopenia in childhood. Edinburgh experience 1962-82.

This retrospective review of 136 children with idiopathic thrombocytopenia assesses the prognostic significance of various presenting parameters and the effect of therapy. Initial haemoglobin, white cell count, actual platelet count, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and lymphadenopathy had no significant effect upon the final outcome. Cases of acute I.T.P. were associated with a higher incidence of preceding infection, a shorter history of bleeding and a preponderance of males. The presence of greater than 20 per cent lymphocytes in the bone marrow was associated with a longer time to achieve a normal platelet count (p = 0.05). Steroid therapy shortened the time for acute cases of I.T.P. to obtain a normal platelet count (p = 0.05), but had no effect on long-term prognosis. Chronicity occurred in 25 children (18%) and nine of these had spontaneous remissions. Immunosuppressive therapy was ineffective, but nine out of 12 children were cured by splenectomy. Mortality was 0.7 per cent (one death) and general morbidity was low.