Mortality in severe, non aggressively treated adult autoimmune thrombocytopenia

A total of 130 consecutive patients with severe autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP) who were diagnosed and treated in our institution between 1991 and 2001 were followed up. The patients were almost exclusively treated with prednisolone, immunoglobulin and/or splenectomy. The aim of the treatment was to keep the platelet count at least above 10,000 microL. None of the patients died from bleeding, two patients died from infection and seven from other unrelated causes. These data show that AITP is a relatively benign disease that does not require aggressive treatment. Bleeding can be prevented if the platelet count can be kept above 10,000 microL.