Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the main pathogenesis of excessive platelet destruction and abnormal megakaryocyte apoptosis, however, the mechanism underlying this abnormality in megakaryocytes remains to be elucidated. Since autophagy and apoptosis are closely interrelated, it can be speculated that the abnormal apoptosis of ITP megakaryocytes is associated with autophagy. To test this hypothesis, a total of 14 patients with ITP and 23 healthy controls were recruited. MEG‑01 cell line was cultured in vitro, and morphological changes were observed by light microscopy, apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis of Annexin V‑FITC/propidium iodide staining and western blot analysis of B‑cell lymphoma (Bcl)‑2, Bcl‑associated X protein (Bax), Beclin‑1 and cleaved caspase 3. Apoptotic abnormalities and autophagy were observed in the ITP plasma group. Furthermore, Bax expression was downregulated, while Beclin‑1 was upregulated. Chloroquine can block autophagy induced by ITP and remove the ITP plasma inhibition of apoptosis. Therefore, it may be concluded that ITP may induce autophagy, the inhibition of which may be a novel treatment for ITP.