FcγRIIA, a low affinity receptor for IgG, is a polymorphic molecule: FcγRIIA‐HH131, FcγRIIA‐HR131 and FcγRIIA‐RR131. This polymorphism influences the efficiency of the receptor to bind with IgG2. Recent reports on altered distribution amongst individuals with heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) prompted us to examine the FcγRIIA polymorphism in a cohort of patients with refractory idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), in whom severe disease had required them to undergo splenectomy. 29 post splenectomy ITP individuals and 61 normal controls were investigated. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a Southern blotting technique were used to determine the FcγRII polymorphism. Although the distribution of the allotypes of FcγRIIA in the control population was similar to that found in other European studies of Caucasian populations (15 (25%) HH131; 35 (57%) HR131; 11(18%) RR131), the patient group was skewed towards the RR131 allotype which has least efficiency for IgG2 binding (3 (10%) HH131; 12 (42%) HR131; 14 (48%) RR131; P < 0.005). These findings suggest that FcγRIIA polymorphisms may be implicated in the pathophysiology of ITP or may be responsible for modulating the immune response in this heterogenous autoimmune disease.