A single dose of anti-D immunoglobulin raises platelet count as efficiently as intravenous immunoglobulin in newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenic purpura in Korean children.

Author(s): Son DW, Jeon IS, Yang SW, Cho SH

Affiliation(s): Department of Pediatrics, Gil Medical Center, Gachon Medical School, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea.

Publication date & source: 2008-08, J Pediatr Hematol Oncol., 30(8):598-601.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of a single dose of anti-D immunoglobulin (anti-D) at 50 mug/kg to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in Korean children with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). METHODS: We performed this study prospectively by randomly administering 2 consecutive doses of IVIG at a dose of 1.0 g/kg/dor a single dose of anti-D at 50 microg/kg to children upon initial diagnosis of acute ITP. The platelet count and adverse events, including hemoglobin concentration, were then serially evaluated, and the responses were compared. RESULTS: The likelihood of having a platelet count greater than 20x10/mm after 3 days of treatment in the IVIG and anti-D group was 93% and 92%, respectively. In addition, hemoglobin concentration in the anti-D group had declined more than that of the IVIG group (1.49 g/dL vs. 0.80 g/dL, P=0.014) 3 days after treatment. Fever, chills, and headache occurred less frequently in the anti-D group than the IVIG group, however, this difference was not statistically significant (25% vs. 45%, P=0.494). CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of 50 microg/kg of anti-D raised platelet count as efficiently as IVIG in newly diagnosed cases of ITP in Korean children. Although 50 microg/kg of anti-D had a greater effect on the hemoglobin concentration than IVIG, the adverse effects were found to be acceptable, and no serious events were observed.