engleski

Immune thrombocytopenia: serum cytokines level in children and adults

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune- mediated platelet disorder in which autoantibody-coated platelets are removed from the blood by monocytic phagocytes. The cytokines balance is well-known to regulate the immune system under normal condition, and is known to be impaired in many autoimmune diseases. This study was designed to investigate the role and imbalance of Th cytokines in the pathogenesis of ITP. The differences in cytokines level between pediatric and adult newly diagnosed patients with ITP was evaluated, and these profiles were compared to those found in healthy, age-matched controls. The concentration of IL-1α, IL-2, IL- 3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-, IFN-, and IFN- in serum specimens was analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. At the time of ITP diagnosis, children showed significantly lower serum levels of interleukin IL-2 and tumor necrosis factor TNF-α and higher serum level of IL-4 than healthy, controls. Serum level of IL- 4 in adult ITP patients was higher than those in control subjects. When compared with adults, children with ITP had lower serum level of IL- 4, IL-6 and IFN-γ, and higher level of IFN-α. The finding of significant differences in serum cytokine levels between patients and healthy controls supports the hypothesis that cytokine disturbances – especially changes in IL-4 – are involved in the pathogenesis of newly diagnosed ITP in both pediatric and adult patients.

immune thrombocytopenia; serum cytokine levels; children; adults

nije evidentirano