Abstract
We reported a patient with SLE and severe thrombocytopenia who underwent partial splenic embolization (PSE).
This patient was a 30-year-old female on steroid therapy for SLE with positive platelet-associated Ig G (PAIgG) and lupus anticoagulant (LAC).
Following a decrease of the dose of steroids, the platelet count fell significantly to less than 1.0×104/μl. Therefore, we performed semi-pulse therapy with betamethasone (50mg/day for 3 days) on 3 occations and also gave high-dose r-globulin therapy 3 times. No sustained improvement could be obtained, so we next performed PSE since it was too dangerous toresect the spleen. The platelet count is maintained at a level of 5×104/μl after one year from PSE. When there is no response to drug therapy in SLE with impaired renal function and steroid-resistant thrombocytopenia, PSE may be useful because it can increase the platelet count without a severe invasion.
