IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA - A GUIDELINE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP, also known as immune thrombo cytopenic purpura) affects both children and adults. In childhood, the peak age is 2-4 pears, girls and boys are equally affected, and in mo st children, the disease is self-limited with spontaneous recovery occ urring in several weeks to several months. In adults, ITP is most comm on among young women, and the disease is more insidious in its onset a nd chronic in its course. In both children and adults, there are impor tant unresolved issues in diagnosis and management that have major cos t implications. For this reason, the American Society of Hematology ch ose ITP as the disease topic for its initial practice guideline in 199 3. In 1996, the practice guideline was published in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology. This review describes the prin ciple features of ITP in children and adults, the process of developme nt of the practice guideline for ITP, and the implications of the guid eline for the diagnosis and management of patients with ITP.