title: Intravenous corticosteroids versus intravenous gammaglobulin in the treatment of acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: Debate continues over the most appropriate treatment for children with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). An institutional review of all admissions for acute ITP between 1986 and 1991 found 61 children treated with intravenous (i.v.) IgG or i.v. steroids with a bone marrow aspirate consistent with ITP, an age of 21 years or younger, and an admission platelet count of < or = 20,000/mm3. The efficacy of these two agents was compared in the described population. A response was defined as achieving a platelet count of > or = 50,000/mm3. A significantly greater percentage of patients responded to i.v. IgG compared to i.v. steroids during the first 36 hr of therapy; however, by 72 hr of treatment there was no significant difference. The cost of hospitalization was 3 1/2 times greater for the patients responding to i.v. IgG vs. i.v. steroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hord
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous