Evaluating association between idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and hypertension.

PURPOSE The role of platelets in the pathogenesis of hypertension is not well known. The aim of this study was to ascertain if patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) had different rates of hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, we analyzed the correlation between hypertension and ITP from the years 2002-2011. RESULTS We found no significant differences in the rate of hypertension between ITP and Non-ITP patients. For instance, in 2002, 25.90% of patients with ITP had a concurrent diagnosis of hypertension, compared with 26.53% of Non-ITP patients. Then in 2011, 31.95% of patients with ITP had a concurrent diagnosis of hypertension, compared with 32.31% of Non-ITP patients. CONCLUSION Based on our large database, the presence of ITP does not appear to be associated with an increased or decreased risk of hypertension.