Oxidative stress and immune thrombocytopenia.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by increased platelet destruction or decreased platelet production. The mechanism of the disease has been extensively studied so that we now have a much improved understanding of the pathophysiology; however, the trigger of the autoimmunity remains unclear. More recently, oxidative stress was identified to be involved in the pathogenesis of ITP and provides a new hypothesis for the initiation of autoimmunity in patients with ITP. In this review, oxidative stress and its impact on autoimmunity, particularly ITP, will be covered.