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A favourable effect of long‐term α‐interferon therapy in refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
Author(s) -
Kumakura Shunichi,
Ishikura Hiroto,
Tsumura Hiroto,
Endo Jiro,
Tsunematsu Tokugoro
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1993.tb03228.x
Subject(s) - medicine , refractory (planetary science) , thrombocytopenic purpura , interferon , platelet , gastroenterology , immunology , physics , astrobiology
Summary We successfully treated two patients with refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) with a weekly or monthly administration of α‐interferon followed by short‐course treatment with α‐interferon. In both cases an increase in platelet count was brought about within 1 week after administration of α‐interferon and the favourable response in platelet count was sustained over a few years with the weekly or monthly administration of α‐interferon in the absence of any noticeable side‐effects except for fever. So. α‐interferon therapy seems to be beneficial in some cases of refractory ITP in terms of both remission induction and maintenance therapy.