TITLE:
Research Progress on the Role of the PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway in Immune Thrombocytopenia
AUTHORS:
Ling Ge
KEYWORDS:
PD-1 Inhibitor, PD-L1 Inhibitor, Immune Thrombocytopenia, Immune-Related Adverse Events, Immune Tolerance
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Blood Diseases,
Vol.16 No.2,
May
19,
2026
ABSTRACT: The widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly Programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death ligand 1(PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors, has significantly improved the survival prognosis of patients with various malignancies but has also brought about unique immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Among these, ICI-related immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a rare but potentially life-threatening hematologic adverse event, is gaining increasing clinical attention. This article systematically reviews the pathogenic mechanisms of ITP associated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and explores the potential role of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in the pathogenesis of primary ITP. A deep understanding of the bidirectional relationship between the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and ITP is of great significance for optimizing the safety management of tumor immunotherapy and exploring novel therapeutic strategies for ITP.