Treatment of adult autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura with high-dose intravenous plasmin-cleaved gammaglobulins.

We present the results of the treatment of 15 adult patients with chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura with high dose i.v. gammaglobulins. In 11 patients, this treatment produced a remission, complete (platelet counts above 100 X 10(9)/l) in 5, partial (platelet counts between 50 and 100 X 10(9)/l) in 6. In all these patients, the response was transient lasting 2-4 weeks. In 4 patients, no response was observed. We used plasmin-cleaved gammaglobulins which caused rare and mild side effects and gave results similar to those reported with intact human gammaglobulins. The indications of high dose i.v. gamma-globulins in the management of adult patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura are discussed.