Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Childhood Acute Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purura

Choi, Hyoung Soo; Park, Eun Sil; Kang, Hyoung Jin; Shin, Hee Young; Ahn, Hyo Seop

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to compare the efficacy and adverse reactions of low dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) with those of high dose IVIG in childhood acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). METHODS: Thirty children who were diagnosed as acute ITP in Seoul National University Children's Hospital from June 2000 to Jan. 2003 were enrolled. IVIG (I.V Globulin S, Green Cross Ltd, Korea) were administered 1 g/kg in low dose group (n=15) and 2 g/kg (400 mg/kg for 5 day or 1 g/kg for 2 days) in high dose group (n=15). RESULTS: 1) The median age of the patients was 4 years (range, 2 months to 13 years) and male to female ratio was 0.5: 1. The median duration of follow-up was 6 months (range, 1 month to 2 year 9 months). 2) The median days to recover the platelet count over 50, 000/muL, 100, 000/muL, 150, 000/muL after IVIG administration were 4, 6, and 7 days in the low dose group and 3, 5, and 5 days in the high dose group. After the initial response, the platelet count decreased below 50, 000/muL in 5 out of 13 patients in the low dose group (the median day, 13) and 6 out of 13 patients in the high dose group (the median day, 21). In 25 patients who were followed over 6 months, 3 out of 13 patients (23.1%) in the low dose group and 4 out of 12 patients (33.3%) in the high dose group were remained as chronic ITP. 3) Adverse reactions related to IVIG administration were observed in 4 out of 15 patients (26.7%) in the low dose group and 5 out of 15 patients (33.3%) in the high dose group. They were fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, and most of them were subsided spontaneously. CONCLUSION: There were no significant difference in the response rate, the relapse rate and the incidence of adverse reactions between the low dose group and the high dose group in childhood acute ITP after IVIG therapy. In respect of the cost and the duration of hospitalization, the low dose IVIG might have some advantages.