Serum uric acid and inflammation in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura: preliminary results

M.S. Dal, A. Karakus, B.B. Aydin, M.O. Ekmen, T. Ulas, O. Ayyildiz

Department of Hematology, Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey. dr.sinandal@gmail.com

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• Hematology

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the uric acid (UA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with newly diagnosed ITP and 40 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into two groups; group 1 (n = 40) consisted of patients with ITP, and group 2 (n = 40) consisted of healthy subjects. UA and CRP levels were measured in the blood samples from them.

RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in gender, age and body mass index between two groups (p > 0.05 for all). Compared to group 2, group 1 had significantly higher UA levels (p = 0.002), whereas CRP levels were not significantly different (p > 0.05). In ITP patients, serum UA and CRP levels significantly correlated with low platelet count (r = –0.362, p = 0.022; r = –0.383, p = 0.015, respectively); and UA levels significantly correlated with CRP levels (r = 0.436, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that UA levels increased in patients with ITP and negatively correlated with platelet counts. UA levels might be a mediator of inflammation via enhanced production of inflammatory cytokines; they might also be a potential mediator of low platelet count, and could play a pathophysiological role in the development of ITP.

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