Suppressive effect of intravenous immunoglobulin on peripheral blood neutrophil count in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) on neutrophil count, the authors studied patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).


METHODS
Thirty-one of 40 patients with ITP were treated with an IVIG regimen (400 mg/kg/daily for 5 days), while the other 9 were observed without any medications. Peripheral samples were examined during the clinical course.


RESULTS
The absolute neutrophil count in 22 patients with no fever as a side effect decreased significantly by day 2 after the start of IVIG, but in most patients it began to increase soon after the last IVIG. There was also a significant difference between the decreased level of the absolute neutrophil count in patients with and without IVIG. However, re-administration of IVIG within 2 weeks did not significantly suppress the neutrophil count. In contrast, the neutrophil count increased in every patient with a fever as a side effect of IVIG.


CONCLUSIONS
IVIG induced a decrease in peripheral blood neutrophil count in patients with ITP.
Sugita
Kenichi
K
Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan. fwiw4736@mb.infoweb.ne.jp
Eguchi
Mitsuoki
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy*
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous