title: A favourable effect of long-term alpha-interferon therapy in refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: We successfully treated two patients with refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) with a weekly or monthly administration of alpha-interferon followed by short-course treatment with alpha-interferon. In both cases an increase in platelet count was brought about within 1 week after administration of alpha-interferon and the favourable response in platelet count was sustained over a few years with the weekly or monthly administration of alpha-interferon in the absence of any noticeable side-effects except for fever. So, alpha-interferon therapy seems to be beneficial in some cases of refractory ITP in terms of both remission induction and maintenance therapy.
authors.affiliation: Third Division of Internal Medicine, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumakura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishikura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsumura
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsunematsu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha