Danazol therapy in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: the efficacy of low-medium dose therapy.

To examine the effects and optimal dose of danazol on idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), we administered a low-medium dose to 14 patients with this disease. A low-medium dose of danazol was effective in maintaining the platelet count at a high level, even after the dose of prednisolone was reduced. A low-medium dose of danazol without other therapy was effective in 3 of 6 patients even after they had been refractory to other treatment. A low dose of danazol was also effective in some patients for whom the other regimes were not indicated. It is concluded that a low-medium dose of danazol instead of a high dose is worth trying in ITP when the patient has become refractory to other therapeutic approaches or when these are not indicated.