title: Lymphocyte subsets in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura during high-dose gamma globulin therapy.
abstract: Peripheral lymphocyte subsets (OKT3+, OKT4+, OKT8+) were studied by monoclonal antibodies in 10 patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), before and after high-dose intravenous gamma globulin therapy at a daily dose of 0.4 g/kg/body weight for 5 consecutive days followed by several boosters every 10-15 days. A stable increase of platelet count was obtained in 5 patients, whereas the other 5 showed a transient improvement of platelet count but then became refractory to the treatment. Phenotypic analysis of T cell subsets showed a decrease of the OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio following therapy, with non change in the percentage of OKT3+ cells. A significant decrease of lymphocyte count and platelet associated IgG was shown in 80% of our patients. These data suggest the possible long term efficacy of repeated iv IgG inchronic ITP patients through a mechanism of specific enhancement of suppressor T cell function.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scienze Biomediche, Ospedale S. Gerardo. Monza.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pogliani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Della Volpe
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Casaroli
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Maffe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corneo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous