[Long-term maintenance of platelets by IFN alpha-2b in a case of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to prednisolone therapy].
A 63-year-old female with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to prednisolone therapy was treated with interferon alpha-2b (IFN alpha-2b). Initially, the patient received 2 courses of short-course therapy in which 1.5 million IU and IFN alpha-2b was subcutaneously injected 3 times a week every other day for 4 weeks. During the first course, the platelet count rose from 1.0 x 10(4)/microliters to 12.4 x 10(4)/microliters 3 weeks after the beginning of the therapy, but the effect was transient. In the second course the platelet-increasing effect was lower than that in the first course. Then, intermittent injections of 3 million IU of IFN alpha-2b once a week were subsequently begun. Consequently, the patient's platelet count has been maintained at 5 to 9 x 10(4)/microliters for more than 19 months since the beginning of intermittent IFN alpha-2b therapy.
Department of Medicine III, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University.
K
K
Murai
H
H
Hirano
T
T
Utsugisawa
R
R
Takeda
Y
Y
Narigasawa
T
T
Kanazawa
Y
Y
Miyairi
S
S
Kuriya
D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011239:Prednisolone