title: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in Egyptian children.
abstract: 350 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) aged 2/12-15 years (mean 6.3 +/- 2.7) were followed up during the period January 1st, 1975 to March 31, 1992. They constituted 40% of cases with hemorrhagic diathesis attending the Hematology/Oncology Clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University (relative frequency of 37.4/100.000 of the general Out-Patient Clinic in the same hospital). These patients presented with acute (71.4%), chronic (22.9%) and recurrent (5.7%) forms. The age of presentation was younger in acute ITP. In the recurrent form there was significant female predominance. Most cases of acute ITP (66%) presented in winter and spring, with a positive history of preceding viral illness in 50% in contrast to 10% in chronic form. Four chronic ITP cases developed lupus erythematosus; all were females > 9 years. As regards therapy, acute ITP cases with initial platelet count (PC) < 10 x 10(9)/l were randomized to receive either high-dose methyl prednisolone (HDMP) 10 mg/kg/day for 5 days i.v. (n = 10) or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 0.4 g/kg/day for 5 days (n = 10) or conventional-dose prednisone (CDP) 2 mg/kg/day 4 weeks p.o. (n = 10). A dramatic response was noticed in the first two groups. In chronic ITP, (n = 80) CDP induced complete response (CR) in 30% and partial response (PR) in 20%; 50% were nonresponders. Twenty-four refractory ITP with persistent PC < or = 20 x 10(9)/l received second-line therapy: vincristine 1.5 mg/m2/week i.v. 4 doses (n = 4) with no clinical or hematological improvement. IVIG 0.4 g/kg/day for 5 days (n = 8) with sustained CR only in 2 patients (25%) and PR in 2 patients (25%). Splenectomy was performed (n = 12) with CR in 50%; out of them, 2 patients had shown no improvement on prior IVIG therapy. In conclusion, ITP is a benign condition with no fatality reported, but it could run a chronic refractory course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khalifa
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tolba
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: el-Alfy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gadallah
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013156:Splenectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D014750:Vincristine; D008775:Methylprednisolone