[Critical assessment of cortico-steroid therapy of acute thrombopenia (author's transl)].

Case histories of 75 children aged 6 months to 14 years were analysed, hospitalisation being for purpura due to thrombocytopenia. Sex distribution, age at first manifestation, frequency of infections immediately preceding purpura, frequency of chronic forms and letality coincide with previous literature reports. A favourable influence of corticosteroids on the acute phase of disease e.g. on purpura and disposition to haemorrhage, thrombocyte qualities, spleen- and liver enlargement as well as duration of hospitalisation was not realized.