Thrombosis in patients with primary chronic immune thrombocytopenia

Patients with primary chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) have immune-mediated platelet destruction and/ or suppressed platelet production. ITP patients are, due to the thrombocytopenia, at increased risk of severe bleeding episodes. Paradoxically, these patients also seem to have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Findings from a Danish study including 391 patients with chronic ITP and 3,128 comparisons from the general population have suggested a more than twofold higher risk of VTE in patients with chronic ITP compared with the general population. VTEs may occur even in patients with low platelet count. The conclusion is therefore that clinicians should keep VTE in mind as a potential diagnosis in patients with chronic ITP. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.