Diagnosis and management of immune thrombocytopenia in childhood

SummaryEvidence-based medicine is growing in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but solid clinical data are still lacking in many areas. A majority of children has self-limited ITP, but chronic symptomatic ITP exists also in pediatrics. Management includes a watch-andwait strategy for children with newly diagnosed ITP and no or mild bleeding, and immunoglobulins and corticosteroids, if more bleeding and mucous membrane involvement is present. Treatment endpoints differ in clinical research and in clinical practice. The requirement of platelet enhancing drugs needs to be better defined in guidelines. Second-line ther…