title: The effect of a single course of alpha-2B-interferon in patients with HIV-related and chronic idiopathic immune thrombocytopenia.
abstract: 13 patients with HIV-related immune thrombocytopenia (HIV-ITP) and 10 patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (C-ITP) were treated with a single course of alpha-2b-Interferon (IFN 3 x 10(6) IU subcutaneously for 12 d). The patients had platelet counts lower than 40 x 10(9)/L and thrombocytopenia persisting for over 1 year (range 1-22 years); 7 patients were refractory to previous conventional therapy, 5 were responsive, and 11 had not been previously treated. The response to IFN was complete in 8 patients (platelets > 100 x 10(9)/L), partial in 7 (platelets 50-100 x 10(9)/L); 8 patients showed no response. The treatment with IFN was stopped after 4 d in one patient due to a fall in platelet count. The maximal platelet count (median peak 116 +/- 55 SD x 10(9)/L platelets) was obtained after 13.7 +/- 2.98 d and the improvement in platelet count was maintained for 22.8 +/- 8.6 d. No difference in platelets response was observed between HIV-ITP and C-ITP. The response to IFN seems to be related to the one obtained with previous treatments. Indeed 80% of the patients who were responsive to previous steroids, high dose immunoglobulins or azidothymidine (HIV-ITP) showed a complete or partial response while only 43% of the refractory patients showed a partial response; the positive response rate in previously untreated patients was 73%.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Chair of Internal Medicine, University of Padua Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sgarabotto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zanon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francavilla
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaggia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cadrobbi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girolami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins