title: Subcutaneous anti-D globulin application is a safe treatment option of immune thrombocytopenia in children.
abstract: Subcutaneous (sc) administration of anti-D seems to offer the same efficacy as intravenous administration but with less side effects. Here we report our experience with sc anti-D for pediatric immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). A total of 12 children with a median age of 11.2 years had been treated by sc anti-D. They received a median of 2 sc anti-D applications (range 1-31) with a dosage of 250-375 IE/kg body weight. Only in one out of a total of 102 single applications, a minimal and self-limited side effect (chills) had been observed. The mean platelet count was almost doubled after sc anti-D (p < 0.0001). After a median follow-up of 11.4 months, all patients are alive without major bleeding and stay well. We conclude that sc anti-D: is not only an efficient means of treating ITP in children but is also a safe and convenient one.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hemato-Oncology, St. Anna Children's Hospital, Kinderspitalgasse 6, 1090, Vienna, Austria. m.trebo@utanet.at
authors.forename: Monika M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Trebo
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gadner
authors.forename: Milen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minkov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D055104:Infusions, Subcutaneous; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D007518:Isoantibodies; C061961:RHO(D) antibody; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin