title: Danazol therapy in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: long-term results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adults with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in whom standard-dose corticosteroids and splenectomy have failed or who have contraindications to these therapies often require further treatment for life-threatening thrombocytopenia or bleeding. We studied whether danazol, an attenuated androgen, is useful in this setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess both clinical outcome and tolerance issues, 57 patients who had refractory chronic ITP (n = 27) or who had contraindications to splenectomy or corticosteroids or who refused these therapeutic options (n = 30) were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight patients experienced a partial or complete response to therapy (67%), among whom 27 (46%) remained in remission at a median (+/- SD) of 119 +/- 45 months. Treatment tolerance was acceptable, although severe adverse events were reported in 9 patients (16%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that danazol therapy may be beneficial in the management of refractory chronic ITP or when there are contraindications to splenectomy or corticosteroids (or both).
authors.affiliation: Departments of Hematology and Oncology, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maloisel
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andrès
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamfir
authors.forename: Argyro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koumarianou
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dufour
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000075202:Contraindications; D003613:Danazol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D013156:Splenectomy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D003613:Danazol