Alteration of the cellular and humoral imrnunity in the childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Abstract

The total number of lymphocytes, the T cell subsets, the plasmatic concentration of immunoglobulins and complement, the circulating immune complexes and the presence of specific viral antibodies were studied in 65 children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (33 acute and 32 chronic). No significant alterations, neither in the number of lymphocytes nor in its distribution in relation to the subsets have been demonstrated. The concentration of plasmatic immunoglobulins was normal in the majority of the cases and decreased levels were found only in 2-4 % for IgG. The circulating immune complexes were positive in 9.5 % of the acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpuras and in 27.7 % of the chronic ones. The positiveness of viral antibodies was detected in 50 % af the cases, being in the acute forms, the biggest percentage was of the IgM class. Our results do not make evident the existence of an important immunological imbalance in the idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and strengthen the possibility of infectious origin af the acute forms.