FLY Chan, GPG Fung, LTW Chan, WK Chiu

Abstract

Background: Demographic and clinical features of childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in Hong Kong were described and the clinical predictors of ITP remission were identified. Methods: We conducted a 15-year retrospective analysis of all children with newly diagnosed ITP in two regional hospitals in Hong Kong. Demographic and clinical features of childhood ITP were described. Clinical predictors of remission by 12 months were analysed by a logistic regression model. Results: One hundred and eleven cases of newly diagnosed ITP were analysed, among which 85 (77%) recovered by 12 months while 26 (23%) of them developed a chronic course. Remission was associated with the following predictors: platelet count ≤10x10⁹/L (p=0.034), age ≤24 months (p=0.013) and acute onset of symptoms (p=0.001). Conclusions: We presented the demographic and clinical features of childhood ITP in the local population. Clinical predictors of remission were identified as a guide for disease monitoring.