[Treatment of acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura in children--intravenous immunoglobulin or treatment with corticosteroids?].

The results of treatment of newly diagnosed patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura are described. Forty seven patients were treated with prednisone 1-2 mg/kg body weight/24 hours and 13 with simplified methods of giving immunoglobulins (2 x 0.4 g/kg body weight/24 hours). An increase of platelet number to 150 G/l was achieved in 43/47 patients treated with prednisone after 3-104 days (mean 22 days) and significantly faster in 12/13 treated with immunoglobulins (after 3-17 days, mean 7 days). The effect was stable in 30/43 patients in group I (prednisone) and in 11/13 in group II (Igiv). The disease evolved to the chronic form in 15/47 patients treated with prednisone and in 1/13 treated with immunoglobulins. No life-threatening bleedings were observed.