High dose dexamethasone therapy shows better responses in acute immune thrombocytopenia than in chronic immune thrombocytopenia.

Abstract

Oral high dose dexamethasone (HDD) was given as a single daily dose for four consecutive days, every 14 days for four courses. Twenty-nine patients were enrolled. Overall 20 patients (69%) responded: complete response (CR) was achieved in 16 (55%) patients, partial response (PR) in three (10%) patients and MR in one (3%) patient. In acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) response rates after the first, second, third and fourth cycles were as follows: 64% (9/14), 64% (9/14), 79% (11/14), and 85.7% (12/14), respectively. In chronic ITP, overall response rates after the first, second, third and fourth cycles were as follows: 33% (5/15), 40% (6/15), 53% (8/15) and 53% (8/15) respectively. The median time to response was 14 days (4-42 days). Twelve out of 20 patients (5/12 acute ITP and 7/8 chronic ITP) relapsed; median relapse free survival till last follow-up in the remaining eight patients was 130 days (65-365 days).

• Authors: Rahul Naithani, M Mahapatra, Rajat Kumar, Pravas Mishra, Renu Saxena
• Journal: Platelets (Platelets) Vol. 21 Issue 4 Pg. 270-3 ( 2010) ISSN: 1369-1635 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20218911 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Dexamethasone

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Chronic Disease (drug therapy)
• Dexamethasone (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Recurrence
• Thrombocytopenia (drug therapy, immunology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult