IMMUNTHROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA AS A MODEL FOR PATHOGENESIS AND TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNITY

In honour of Professor Rossi's 80th birthday we review the development of our understanding of the immune and auto-immune nature of the path ogenesis of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The immune aspects have been documented by postviral alterations of the cellular and humo ral immune system, by new methods of specific auto-antibody detection against platelet glycoproteins and by the therapeutic effect of admini stering immunoglobulin concentrate from healthy blood donors. The vari ous possible mechanisms of action of immunoglobulin treatment have led to use of this treatment as an alternative for other immune-related d isorders. The treatment of severe chronic ITP in children, however, re mains unsatisfactory. With a new international clinical and laboratory study of children and adolescents with early chronic ITP we are conti nuing the investigation of the pathogenesis and treatment of ITP.