Current Concepts in the Treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenia

Platelet destruction by antibodies is a common cause, of thrombocytopenia. In this review, various treatments for immune thrombocytopenia are discussed, with emphasis on corticosteroids, splenectomy, danazol, high-dose immunoglobulin G, anti-Rhesus globulin, colchicine and cytotoxic, immuftosuppressive agents such as cyclophosphamide and azathioprine. An approach to the treatment of adult idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is reviewed in detail and the treatments for several other immune thrombocytopenic disorders are summarised.