Objective: This study aimed to investigate the expression levels of T-cell immune response cDNA 7 (TIRC7) in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients before and after high-dose dexamethasone (HD-DXM) treatment.

Methods: Forty-four patients with ITP were enrolled and received dexamethasone (40 mg/day) for 4 consecutive days. Patients who had platelet counts more than 50 × 10(9)/l or less were defined as responders or non-responders, respectively. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to measure RNA level and plasma level of TIRC7, respectively.

Results: TIRC7 levels (RNA and plasma level) were significantly higher in ITP than that in control (P < 0.0001). However, after treatment, TIRC7 levels were significantly decreased in responders (P < 0.0001) but not in non-responders (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: TIRC7 might be associated with the pathogenesis of ITP, and TIRC7 levels could be used as an indicator to evaluate patients' response to HD-DXM treatment.