Serum immunoglobulins and lymphocyte subset levels and relation to treatment response in children with acute immune thrombocytopenia

Objective: In this study, we investigated the initial serum immunoglobulin and lymphocyte subset levels of children with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and their association with treatment response. Methods: Thirty children with ITP were retrospectively analyzed. Immunoglobulin isotypes, IgG subtypes, and lymphocyte subset levels in the patients were compared with those of the age- and sex-matched control group and age-appropriate reference values. In addition, we investigated the relationship between immunological parameters and treatment responses. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the patient and control groups regarding immunoglobulin isotype and IgG subtype levels. However, IgG levels were below normal limits in 10 (33.3%) patients, and IgA and IgG2 levels were low in 2 patients with normal IgG levels. Younger age and low IgG level at diagnosis were associated with an increased treatment response on day 7. Conclusion: Serum immunoglobulin levels at the time of diagnosis can help predict treatment response in the early period and detect subclinical immunodeficiency in children with acute ITP.