Immunodeficiency and Grouping with Thyrogastric Autoimmune Disease in patients with Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Summary: Indirect evidence of immunopathy was sought in 32 patients with well documented chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Immunodeficiency was detected by a reduction in immunoglobulin levels in 27%, and by an impaired lymphocyte mitotic response to phytohaemagglutinin in 67% of the patients tested. Clinical and serological evidence obtained sup-ports the concept that chronic ITP is an ‘organ-specific’ autoimmune disease associated with the thyrogastric ‘cluster’.