Initial management of adults with idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura

Since idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in adults is usually a chronic condition with few spontaneous remissions, the goal of treatment is not cure, but to maintain a hemostatically safe platelet level. The indication for treatment should be based not merely on platelet counts, but also clinical indices of bleeding. Although most patients show good initial response to prednisone, the side effects of steroids limit this treatment. Currently, long-term management usually involves splenectomy. Since splenectomy has surgical risks and may also predispose the patient to sepsis, a clinical trial using anti-D (WinRho-SDR) has been performed to determine whether this treatment can safely delay or avoid the need for surgery. The use of WinRho may also reveal the occurrence of spontaneous remissions, a previously unrecognized subgroup of adults with chronic ITP.