All issues > Volume 34(9); 1991

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1991;34(9):1240-1245. Published online September 30, 1991.

An effect of IV methylprednisolone in acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Jin Kuk Kim¹, Kyeong Hee Hong¹, Tae Gyu Whang¹, Soon Yong Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Korea

Received: February 21, 1991;  Accepted: June 3, 1991.

Abstract

The major goal in the treatment of acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is to increase the platelet count above the critical level of 20,000/mm3 to avoid intracranial hemorrhage. We have treated eighteen children with acute ITP whose platelet count were below 20,000/mm3 at initial diagnosis. Thirteen of 18 patients (group A) received IV methylprednisolone (IVMP) 10〜20 mg/kg/day for 5 days from the day of diagnosis. The remaining 5 patients, who were treatment failures with IV gammaglobulin 400 mg/kg/day for 5 days, were also treated with IVMP as the same in group A. Thirteen patients (69%) of group A and 3 patients (60%) of group B showed complete recovery after 1 course of IVMP therapy. Two patients (15%) of group A and one (20%) of group B required one more course of IVMP therapy for complete recovery and another one patient of group A required two more course of IVMP therapy. The remaining cases were impossible to make follow-up. In summary, IVMP therapy was very effective in the management of acute ITP to increase platelet count above the critical level of 20,000/mm3 and to reduce the risk of intracranial hemorrhage. And it was less expensive than IV gammaglobulin therapy.

Keywords :ITP;Methylprednisolone