Contribution of Next Generation Flow (NGF) Cytometry in Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP): Utility for the Differential Diagnosis with Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Background: Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune-mediated acquired disorder characterized by impaired production and increased destruction of platelets with an elevated risk of bleeding. At present, diagnosis of primary ITP still remains one of exclusion with a need to discard other causes of isolated thrombocytopenia, in the absence of robust and accurate clinical and laboratory diagnostic criteria. For the diagnosis of ITP, a bone marrow (BM) study may be useful to differentiate between ITP and other diseases, such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Next generation flow (NGF) has emerged as a potential useful tool in these settings.