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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Feb;15(2):157-166.
doi: 10.1080/17474086.2022.2029699. Epub 2022 Feb 12.

COVID-19 associated with immune thrombocytopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Mohammed Ghannam Alharbi  1   2 , Nouf Alanazi  3 , Aroob Yousef  3 , Nora Alanazi  2 , Bader Alotaibi  4 , Mahmoud Aljurf  5 , Riad El Fakih  5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

COVID-19 associated with immune thrombocytopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Mohammed Ghannam Alharbi et al. Expert Rev Hematol. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia, also known as immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), has emerged as a significant COVID-19-associated complication. This study analyzes the published literature of case reports and case series regarding COVID-19 infection associated with ITP.

Methodology: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a systematic search was conducted through PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline through Clarivate and EBSCO to include the eligible studies. The authors utilized Review Manager 5.4 to conduct quantitative data synthesis for the condition of interest analysis.

Results: A total of 13 eligible case reports and case series with 42 patients were included in this study; 54.8% of them were male. The pooled mean age of all participants was (59.5 ± 19) years with a median age of 63 years. The estimated mean time from diagnosis with COVID-19 to ITP development was 18.1 ± 21 days and the mean time to recovery from ITP was 5.8 ± 4.8 days. The pooled random effect of mean platelet count in the included six studies was 14.52, CI [8.79, 20.25].

Conclusion: Our analysis shows that ITP secondary to COVID-19 infection is slightly more prevalent among males (54.8%). Elderly patients were more vulnerable to the disease. Most cases developed ITP within 2-3 weeks after COVID-19 infection and recovered in less than one week from ITP.

Keywords: COVID-19; ITP; immune thrombocytopenic purpura; platelet count.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA flowchart presenting the selection process of the included literature.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Forest Plot of the platelet count among COVID-19 patients associated with ITP.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Funnel plot for visual detection of publication bias.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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