Innate and adaptive immunity in immune thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by both accelerated clearance of autoantibody-sensitized platelets and suboptimal platelet production. A number of studies have provided evidence of disturbed innate and adaptive immune responses in patients with ITP. This brief review will highlight some of the more recent work in this field and highlight other findings that provide a potential link between ITP, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA).