ACUTE IMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF VERY HIGH ORAL DOSES OF METHYLPREDNISOLONE AND INTRAVENOUSLY ADMINISTERED IMMUNE GLOBULIN

We compared very high doses of methylprednisolone with intravenously a dministered immune globulin for treatment of acute idiopathic thromboc ytopenic purpura. Fifty-seven children were randomly assigned to recei ve the immune globulin preparation, 0.5 gm/kg per day for 5 consecutiv e days (n = 19), orally administered methylprednisolone, 30 mg/kg per day for 7 days (n = 19), or orally administered methylprednisolone, 50 mg/kg per day for 7 days (n = 19), There were no differences in the r esponse of the platelet counts among the groups, We conclude that thes e two therapies were equally effective; choice between them may be mad e according to cost and therapy-related risks.