The Frequency of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Collagen Vascular Disorders

Many rheumatologic conditions are associated with thrombocytopenia due to antibody-mediated platelet destruction. Knowing the rate of ITP patients who develop vascular collagen diseases and the developed type can help predict future treatments and even take preventive measures.

This study aimed to know the frequency of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in collagen vascular disorders.

The present retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 on the health records of 447 eligible patients. First, the patient’s details, such as age, gender, marital status, age at diagnosis, time from the diagnosis of ITP to the development of lupus, and the patients’ ANA and anti-dsDNA test results, were extracted from their records and entered into the preparation checklist. Finally, the data were entered into SPSS-23 and analyzed at a statistically significant level of 0.05.

The mean interval between the initial diagnosis of ITP and vascular collagen disease diagnosis was 2.1 ± 0.9 years. The records of 336 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were also assessed, of whom 15 (4.5%) had first developed ITP and then lupus. Hence, of the 447 patients included in the study, 17 (3.8%) with a history of ITP then developed lupus.

Comparing the present findings with the results of other studies shows that Iranian patients with ITP develop vascular collagen disease at a lower rate.