ITP in childhood: difficulties in the individual treatment

To date, immunoglobulin preparations and corticosteroids are the most important therapeutic principles in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Initial treatment with high-dose immunoglobulins (HD-IgG) as well as the following prednisone therapy, however, were only of short lasting success in three children with newly diagnosed ITP. Recurrent bleeding tendency tempted to combine both drugs. A desired longterm elevation of platelet counts, however, was not achieved. Administration of Anti-Rho (D) to two of the patients was also disappointing. Splenectomy which could not be postponed any longer has already led to 17 and 21 months lasting remissions in 2 patients, respectively. The third patient who required monthly single doses of HD-IgG for 6 months after surgery, is in a partial remission since 27 months now. All types of drug administration--alone, consecutive or even combined--must be considered to defer splenectomy. As experienced in our patients, however, splenectomy still seems to be justified in case even such individually adapted therapeutic approaches fail.