Effects of intravenous immunoglobulin in a patient with intermittent thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
We describe a patient with a 9-year history of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) who exhibited four relapses. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) was effective for these four episodes. The patient was well and the laboratory findings were within normal ranges between each episode, although unusually large von Willebrand factor multimers were observed during remission. Our results suggest the usefulness of IVIg at the time of relapse in the treatment of patients with TTP who have multiple relapses over a long period.
Kondo
H
H
Division of Haematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Shimizu Kohsei Hospital, Shimizu, Shizuoka, Japan. haruki_kondo@msn.com
Imamura
T
T
D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D014841:von Willebrand Factor