High-Dose Intravenous Gammaglobulin Therapy for Children with Newly Diagnosed Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Abstract

Twenty-seven children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were treated with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin as the initial therapy. This therapy was effective in 25 of 27 patients (92.6%), with an increment in the platelet counts of more than 20, 000/μl. Their bleeding tendency was immediately controlled following the treatment. Adverse effects were limited to fever in 3 of 27 (11.1%) and febrile convulsion in 1 of 27 (3.7%). In spite of high-dose gammaglobulin therapy at the early onset, 8 of 27 patients (29.6%) proceeded to chronic type. Our results indicated that high-dose gammaglobulin therapy could not reduce the rate of proceeding to chronic type, compared to other agent such as corticosteroids. There was no difference in the clinical features at the diagnosis between the patients with acute and chronic ITP. The most effective therapy for childhood ITP must be determined thereafter, based on prospective and randomized studies.