Experience with high dose dexamethasone in the treatment of chronic symptomatic immune thrombocytopaenia
dc.contributor.author | Van Riet F.A.D. | |
dc.contributor.author | Wessels G. | |
dc.contributor.author | Hesseling P.B. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2011-05-15T16:16:16Z | |
dc.date.available | 2011-05-15T16:16:16Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1999 | |
dc.description.abstract | Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of high dose dexamethasone (HDD) as treatment for symptomatic chronic immune thrombocytopaenia (ITP). Design: A non-randomised intervention study with final evaluation one year after treatment, comparing findings before and after intervention. Setting: Tygerberg University Hospital, South Africa. Participants: A consecutive sample of six children with chronic (duration more than six months) ITP. The diagnosis of ITP was based on a platelet count of < 100 × 109/1 together with appropriate clinical, laboratory and bone marrow findings. Interventions: All children treated with dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg/day intravenously for four days every 28 days for a total of six cycles. Main outcome measures: A rise in platelet count maintained for a least one year associated with the disappearance of symptoms due to thrombocytopaenia. Results: Treatment was easy to administer and well tolerated with transient side effects in only two children. Three patients had a rise in platelet count of > 50 × 109/1 during treatment and three had platelet counts of > 30 × 109/1 after completion of therapy but only one at one month and one at six months after completion of the six courses respectively. None of the patients showed a sustained rise in platelet count during and after HDD treatment Conclusion: HDD did not cause a significant sustained rise in the platelet count in children with chronic symptomatic ITP. If high dose prednisone and IVIG fail, a splenectomy should be considered in children over five years of age. | |
dc.description.version | Article | |
dc.identifier.citation | East African Medical Journal | |
dc.identifier.citation | 76 | |
dc.identifier.citation | 10 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0012835X | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/13706 | |
dc.subject | antiinflammatory agent | |
dc.subject | dexamethasone | |
dc.subject | immunoglobulin | |
dc.subject | article | |
dc.subject | blood | |
dc.subject | bone marrow examination | |
dc.subject | child | |
dc.subject | chronic disease | |
dc.subject | drug effect | |
dc.subject | female | |
dc.subject | human | |
dc.subject | idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura | |
dc.subject | infant | |
dc.subject | intravenous drug administration | |
dc.subject | male | |
dc.subject | patient selection | |
dc.subject | preschool child | |
dc.subject | splenectomy | |
dc.subject | thrombocyte count | |
dc.subject | treatment outcome | |
dc.subject | Anti-Inflammatory Agents | |
dc.subject | Bone Marrow Examination | |
dc.subject | Child | |
dc.subject | Child, Preschool | |
dc.subject | Chronic Disease | |
dc.subject | Dexamethasone | |
dc.subject | Female | |
dc.subject | Humans | |
dc.subject | Immunoglobulins, Intravenous | |
dc.subject | Infant | |
dc.subject | Infusions, Intravenous | |
dc.subject | Male | |
dc.subject | Patient Selection | |
dc.subject | Platelet Count | |
dc.subject | Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic | |
dc.subject | Splenectomy | |
dc.subject | Treatment Outcome | |
dc.title | Experience with high dose dexamethasone in the treatment of chronic symptomatic immune thrombocytopaenia | |
dc.type | Article |