Lin D T, Hwu W L, Lin K H, Lin K S
Taiwan Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi. 1989 Mar;88(3):244-7.
Eight children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, who responded poorly to the conventional therapy or who already had severe side-effects, were treated with high dose intravenous immunoglobulin. Six of the 8 patients already had chronic diseases (disease duration longer than 6 months) when they entered into this study. Six patients had elevated platelet counts greater than 30 x 10(9)/L (the responders) after immunoglobulin induction therapy (2 g/kg immunoglobulin), and the average peak platelet counts were 231 x 10(9)/L. Two short-term pretreated patients were cured, 2 patients were in a drug-free state (platelet counts ranging from 50 to 150 x 10(9)/L), but another 2 responders did not benefit from the maintenance immunoglobulin therapy (0.5 g/kg/dose). From our preliminary results, high dose intravenous immunoglobulin seemed effective in all short-term pretreated and some chronic cases. It is worth trying immunoglobulin therapy when conventional therapies are not satisfactory.
