title: [Low-dose prednisolone therapy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].
abstract: Prednisolone (PSL) is widely used for the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). We compared the effects of a relatively low dose (0.5 mg/kg/day, LD group) of PSL and the conventional dose (1.0 mg/kg/day, CD group) on 59 ITP patients. Twenty-six patients were treated with low-dose PSL, and 23 patients with the conventional dose. No statistically significant difference was observed in the complete remission rates for the LD group (35%) and the CD group (39%). However, the mean duration of hospitalization was significantly (p < 0.001) shorter for LD group patients than for patients in the CD group (20 days versus 50 days, respectively). In conclusion, low-dose PSL may be as effective as the conventional dose and capable of reducing the cost of hospitalization, thus, improving the quality of life for patients with ITP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical School.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohmine
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muroi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imagawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatake
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozawa
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013156:Splenectomy
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine