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Size of spleen rather than amount of platelet sequestration may determine long term responses to splenectomy in adult idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

AbstractFourteen adults with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura suffered a relapse after treatment with steroids, vinca alkaloids, or intravenous gammaglobulin. Splenic sequestration of platelets labelled with 111In-oxine was assessed, and the patients then underwent splenectomy. During follow up of four to 47 months (mean 20.7) none of the patients required further treatment, including three of 14 who showed partial relapses. Splenic sequestration patterns did not predict relapses, but an unexpected finding was that patients who relapsed had significantly smaller spleens. It is concluded that splenectomy is beneficial in most adult patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and that radiological techniques to measure the size of the spleen may be useful in predicting which patients may relapse.
AuthorsB J Boughton, P Smith, J Fielding, R Hawker, I Wilson, S Chandler, A Howie
JournalJournal of clinical pathology (J Clin Pathol) Vol. 38 Issue 10 Pg. 1172-4 (Oct 1985) ISSN: 0021-9746 ENGLAND
PMID4056069 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Topics
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Platelets
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organ Size
  • Platelet Count
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic (pathology, therapy)
  • Recurrence
  • Spleen (pathology, radionuclide imaging)
  • Splenectomy