The use of aprotinin in thrombocytopenic patients: a preliminary evaluation.

Previous studies have shown that high dose aprotinin successfully reduces blood loss in patients undergoing cardiac or vascular surgery, but the use of this approach to reduce bleeding associated with thrombocytopenia has not been studied. We report the results of high dose aprotinin treatment in five patients with thrombocytopenia of differing aetiology. Aprotinin was effective in controlling bleeding in all five patients, some of whom would otherwise have had a poor prognosis. These results suggest that this agent may have a role in the supportive treatment of thrombocytopenia and point to the need for controlled trials of high dose aprotinin treatment in such individuals.