Abstract
BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by the destruction of the platelets resulting from autoimmune recognition and subsequent attack. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are directly associated with progression and pathogenesis in some specific autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum expression of HSP-70 in ITP children and healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 86 children aged 1-6 years were enrolled in the study. The participants were divided into 20 newly diagnosed ITP (ndITP), 34 chronic ITP (cITP) patients and 32 healthy children. The white blood cells and platelet counts were determined and compared between the groups. HSP-70 serum levels were analyzed by sandwich ELISA. Data analysis was done using SPSS and the data variables assessment was done through histogram, probability plots and Shapiro-Wilk tests to determine normal distribution. RESULTS: The white blood cell counts were 8.9 (4.2-10.4) for new diagnosis ITP, 7.1(3.9-11.9) for the chronic ITP group and 7.0 (4.3-9.5) for the healthy controls. The platelet counts were significantly increased in the chronic ITP group, 83.5(31.7-297) compared to the ndITP group 27.4 (3.7-63.7), but significantly lower compared to the healthy controls 271(172-462) (P = 0.0009). There were significantly increased HSP-70 serum levels in cITP patients compared to the ndITP and the healthy group. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the serum HSP-70 level and the thrombocyte counts among the ITP children. CONCLUSIONS: HSP-70 has a role in the progression of childhood ITP. Increased HSP-70 level is associated with the severity of childhood primary ITP.