title: Management of adult idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is defined as isolated thrombocytopenia without a clinically apparent cause. It is categorized as acute, chronic, and refractory. Its clinical presentation ranges from acute to insidious and the bleeding may vary from minimal to severe. The target platelet count with therapy is more than 30,000/microL in sedentary individuals. Since studies regarding therapies for ITP have been mostly uncontrolled case series, the treatment recommendations are largely derived from expert opinion. This review paper summarizes the data on available therapies for adult acute and chronic/refractory ITP. The therapies include splenectomy, steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, anti-Rh(D), monoclonal antibodies, danazol, chemotherapy, plasma exchange, and others.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Continuum Cancer Centers of New York, 1000 10th Avenue, Suite 11 C02, New York, NY 10019, USA.
authors.forename: Ibrahim N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Nakhoul
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kozuch
authors.forename: Mala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013156:Splenectomy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin