Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by thrombocytopenia caused by anti-platelet autoantibodies and is designated as an intractable disease by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Although significant progress has been made in the treatment of ITP in recent years, some cases remain unresponsive to conventional therapies, highlighting the need to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the disease and to develop new therapeutic strategies.

A research group led by Professor Hirokazu Kashiwagi (Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Osaka) and Professor Naoki Hosen (IFReC/Graduate School of Medicine), in collaboration with Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., has identified a subgroup of ITP in which complement activation is involved and has also established a potentially simple method for its clinical detection.
(published in Blood on March 31, 2026)

Contact

Naoki Hosen

hnaokibldon.med.osaka-u.ac.jp

Cellular Immunotherapy