M. Miyazaki et al., PARTIAL SPLENIC EMBOLIZATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA, American journal of roentgenology, 163(1), 1994, pp. 123-126
OBJECTIVE, The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness o
f partial splenic embolization in the treatment of chronic idiopathic
thrombocytopenic purpura. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Twenty-six patients wi
th chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura underwent partial splen
ic embolization and were followed up for 6-61 months. The condition wa
s refractory to steroids in 20 of 26 patients. The other six patients,
in whom a response to steroids was shown, could not be withdrawn from
steroid therapy because their platelet counts decreased with any decr
ease in steroid dose. Five of 26 patients underwent splenectomy after
partial splenic embolization, and the other patients were followed up
without medical treatment until platelet counts decreased below 3 x 10
(10)/I. The therapeutic effect of partial splenic embolization was def
ined on the basis of the platelet count at the last follow-up after pa
rtial splenic embolization: complete response, greater than 10 x 10(10
)/I; partial response, 5 x 10(10)/I to 10 x 10(10)/I; and no response,
less than 5 x 10(10)/I without medication. RESULTS. Partial splenic e
mbolization brought a complete response in seven (33%) of 21 patients,
a partial response in eight (38%), and no response in six (29%). In f
our of five patients, who later underwent splenectomy, response to par
tial splenic embolization was coincident with the response to splenect
omy. No serious complications occurred, but minor complications such a
s abdominal pain, fever, and nausea were observed in most patients. CO
NCLUSION. This study suggests that partial splenic embolization might
be useful as an alternative to splenectomy in the treatment of chronic
idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.