[Prognostic significance of peripheral blood cell and bone marrow megakaryocyte counts in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

To clarify the prognostic contribution of peripheral blood cell and bone marrow megakaryocyte counts in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a series of data of 299 ITP patients including the counts of peripheral white blood cells and platelets, their increase potentials after treatment and the megakaryocytic counts on the bone marrow smears at diagnosis as well were collected and retrospectively analyzed to correlate with the disease development. The results showed that peripheral white blood cell and platelet counts at diagnosis were not associated with the prognosis, but positively associated with the increment of platelet counts after treatment. The cure rate reached up to 94.9% in the group with the platelet level restored to 100 x 10(9)/L in two weeks of therapy. The numerous megakaryocyte counts in bone marrow at diagnosis indicated good prognosis that the cure rate was up to 86.1% when the counts were more than 100 per 1.5 x 3 cm of smear. In conclusion, bone marrow examination on the quantity and quality of megakaryocyte would be critical for diagnosis and evaluation of the prognosis. Consecutive platelet counts during therapy is useful to estimate the disease development.