title: Resetting the immune system in immune thrombocytopenic purpura: immunoablative strategies.
abstract: As is the case with many chronic disorders, the toxicity of treatment for refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) often rivals that of the disease itself. In recent years, attention has turned to strategies designed to permanently rectify the abnormal immune milieu that has permitted the production of autoreactive antibodies, thereby averting chronic administration of morbidity-causing immunosuppressive medications. Approaches that will be discussed include conventional chemotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy with and without autologous stem cell support, and allogeneic transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology Service, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1508, USA. fogartyp@nhlbi.nih.gov
authors.forename: Patrick F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Fogarty
authors.forename: Cynthia E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dunbar
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents