Prediction of infections within 6 months of the initial diagnosis in adults with immune thrombocytopenia by absolute lymphocyte count

Objective To explore incidence, risk factors and prognosis of the first 6 months infectious events in adults with newly diagnosed primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and evaluate the value of initial absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in predicting infection. Methods The initial clinical records and infectious events during 6 months of 217 adult with newly diagnosed ITP were retrospectively analyzed. Statistical methods were used to analyze risk factors of the 6 months infections in adults ITP, the prediction of ALC in risk of infection, and the association of ALC and prognosis. Results Infection rate of ITP patients accepting therapy within 6 months after the initial diagnosis was 13.8% (30/217), and infection rate of patients≥60 years of age 25% (14/56). Multivariate unconditioned Logistic analysis showed that gender and ALC were independent risk factors for the 6 months infection of ITP patients (P 1.225×109/L in adult ITP was lower than of ALC≤1.225×109/L (5.3% vs 45.7%, χ2=49.151, P 0.05, and 98.6% vs 97.8%, χ2=0.095, P> 0.05). There were no significant differences in persistent recovery in patients with and without infection (30.0% vs 27.3%, χ2=0.096, P>0.05). The 1-year mortality rate after diagnosis was significantly lower in those patients who developed an infection (93.3% vs 99.3%, χ2=4.607, P<0.05). Conclusion Initial ALC was an independent risk factor of 6 months infection in adult ITP. It could be a predictive index of infection within 6 months of the initial diagnosis in ITP patients. Infection as an important factor affected the survival of ITP patients. Key words: Thrombocytopenia; Absolute lymphocyte count; Infection