Serum IL-2 and platelet-associated immunoglobulins are good prognostic markers in immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired disease in which autoantibodies to platelets cause their sequestration and destruction by mononuclear macrophages, principally in the spleen. While most children with the disease experience a relatively short and benign clinical course, ITP in adults often lasts more than 6 months (chronic ITP) and is resistant to conventional treatment (corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, or splenectomy). This work was done to study the immunological difference between acute and chronic ITP, the effect of treatment on the studied immunological parameters, and to evaluate the role of prednisone therapy in chronic ITP.