title: Targeted-immunosuppression with vincristine infusion in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia.
abstract: Twenty-four patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) were treated with vincristine (VCR) 1.0-2.0mg given as 4-hr I.V. infusions at weekly intervals for four-six weeks; four patients received further infusions, as maintenance therapy, at increasing intervals for up to 12 months. Eight of ten patients with recent-onset (less than 6 months) ITP showed an excellent and sustained response, 7/8 without maintenance therapy. Among the 14 patients with ITP of greater than or equal to 6 months' duration, seven showed a good or excellent but only transient response; sustained responses (two good, one partial) were seen only in the three patients who received maintenance therapy. The collective global experience with this novel therapeutic approach of targeted-immunosuppression for ITP is still small, but results to date suggest a promising role for this approach, especially in patients with recent-onset ITP.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Haematology, St George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manoharan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine