title: [High-dose cepharanthin therapy of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].
abstract: Clinical efficacy of oral high-dose cepharanthin (40-60 mg/day) was evaluated in nine patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who were unable to discontinue the administration of adrenocorticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs. Mean platelet counts significantly (p less than 0.05) rose from 4.5 +/- 0.9 x 10(4)/microliters to 8.9 +/- 4.2 x 10(4)/microliters without any side effects. Two to five months after the initiation of this therapy, 4 patients, including 3 who could discontinue adrenocorticosteroids, kept their platelet counts over 10 x 10(4)/microliters. It was suggested that the oral administration of cepharanthin could be a beneficial and safe strategy for ITP.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ochiai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaito
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masuoka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishiwaki
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sakai
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D052117:Benzodioxoles
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; C006947:cepharanthine; D052117:Benzodioxoles