[Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Treatment by intravenous transfusion of polyvalent immunoglobulins]

Thirteen patients (2 children and 11 adults) with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura were treated with high doses of human immunoglobulins intravenously (0.4 g/kg bodyweight/day for 5 days). The platelet count rose sharply in 11 patients, with considerable individual variations in terms of maximum count achieved and delay as well as duration of response. Only two adult patients refractory to previous treatments failed to show any significant response. Complete correction of platelet counts was observed in the two children, whereas most adult patients showed incomplete and transient response. No difference was observed between splenectomized and non splenectomized patients. Survival of 111 Indium-labelled autologous platelets was studied in 2 patients after correction of platelet count and was still found shortened. Circulating immune complexes, when present, were not modified by immunoglobulin infusions. In all patients a significant reduction of the fourth component of serum complement was noted after treatment.