THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIA WITH THE SEASONS AND COVID-19

Aims: The aim of this study is to observe the correlation between viral infections and seasonal changes and the disease. Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively with 98 patients diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia between 2018 and 2022. Data regarding patients’ demographic information, laboratory results, presence of coronavirus disease 2019 infection, seasonal and monthly distribution of infection, coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination history, and presence of active treatment were collected. The relationship between immune thrombocytopenia and viral infections according to seasons, the change in the number of patients diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia before and after March 2020 due to the restrictions during the pandemic period, and the difference in platelet counts in patients who were vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 were investigated. Results: In immune thrombocytopenia cases, which are possibly triggered by viral infections, when we investigated whether there was a seasonal difference, it was seen that the number of patients diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia was higher in spring and summer. However, when statistical analysis was performed, no significant difference was found in terms of new diagnoses between seasons. On the other hand, a statistically significant difference was found between months. When examined on a monthly basis, it is seen that patients were diagnosed more frequently in June and October. Conclusion: It was determined that the months of diagnosis were close to each other in our study, and the literature showed us that we need to consider the characteristics of these months in etiology.