Efficacy of platelet transfusions in immune thrombocytopenia

Records of 11 patients with immune thrombocytopenia (idiopathic and quinidine-induced) were evaluated retrospectively for response to platelet transfusion. Good post-transfusion platelet count increments occurred on one or more occasions in seven of the 11 patients, with 13 of 31 platelet transfusions (42 percent) resulting in immediate post-transfusion increments of 20,000/mm3 or more. Next-day platelet counts remained elevated in association with five of these 13 transfusions. This study demonstrates that, contrary to common opinion, platelet transfusions can raise the platelet count in many patients with immune thrombocytopenia, and therefore may be beneficial in actively bleeding or high-risk patients with this disorder.