Thrombocytopenic Purpura

New thrombocytopenic purpura in women research has been reported by scientists at GlaxoSmithKline

Thrombocytopenic Purpura Library Library Home This article was published in Hematology Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"From 1992 to 2005, there were 840 cases of ITP among adults considering 21 749 623 person-years (PYs) of follow-up, for a crude incidence of 3.9 per 100 000 PYs [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.6, 4.1]. The incidence was higher among women [4.5 per 100 000 PYs (95% CI: 4.2, 4.9)] than men [3.2 per 100 000 PYs (95% CI: 2.8, 3.5)]. Among both women and men, incidence was higher at older ages and in later study years. In a systematic review of previously published literature, incidence of ITP among adults ranged from 1.6 to 2.68 per 100 000 persons per year; prevalence ranged from 9.5 to 23.6 per 100 000 persons," wrote P.E. Abrahamson and colleagues, GlaxoSmithKline.

The researchers concluded: "In order to improve the understanding of the disease burden of ITP, future studies should include a clearly defined definition of ITP and focus on well-described source populations that are geographically and ethnically diverse."

Abrahamson and colleagues published their study in European Journal of Haematology (The incidence of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura among adults: a population-based study and literature review. European Journal of Haematology, 2009;83(2):83-9).

For more information, contact P.E. Abrahamson, Worldwide Epidemiology, GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development, Research Triangle Park, NC USA..

Publisher contact information for the European Journal of Haematology is: Blackwell Publishing Inc., 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148, USA.

Keywords: United States, Epidemiology, Hematology, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

This article was prepared by Hematology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Hematology Week via NewsRx.com.