BACKGROUND: @entity3039 ( @entity3039 ) is characterized by a drop in platelet count usually accompanied by @entity548 . In chronic forms the platelet count remains low for six months after diagnosis and in recurrent forms the drop in platelet count appears after a period of normality. OBJECTIVES: To asses outcome and treatment response in @entity1 with chronic or recurrent @entity3039 . METHODS: We performed a retrospective, descriptive study of @entity1 attended in the pediatric hematology outpatient clinic between January 1999 and December 2001. RESULTS: Of 38 @entity1 with chronic @entity3039 , 16 (42 %) presented chronic forms and 22 (58 %) presented recurrent forms. No significant differences were found between the two groups in age, sex, diagnosis, duration of follow-up, previous @entity1800 , or antiplatelet antibodies. In recurrent forms, the most effective treatment was intravenous immune gamma-globulin (77 % favorable responses) but response time was short (mean: 22.1 weeks). Splenectomy produced complete remission in 63 % of the chronic forms. Good results were obtained in six @entity1 from both groups treated with intravenous anti-D immune globulin. During the study period, 4.5 % of @entity1 with recurrent forms and 31.5 % of those with chronic forms showed spontaneous remission without treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the most effective treatment for recurrent forms of @entity3039 was intravenous immune globulin, but none of the treatments achieved long-term responses. In chronic forms, splenectomy is an effective alternative when the risk of @entity548 is high, while a watchful attitude seems to be the best option when this risk is absent. Although the number of @entity1 treated with intravenous anti-D immune globulin was low, good results were achieved.

[Chronic and recurrent XXXX ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity3039 :: ('MESH:D016553', 'Disease') :: ['Immune thrombocytopenic purpura', 'ITP'] @entity1800 :: ('MESH:D014777', 'Disease') :: ['viral infection'] @entity548 :: ('MESH:D006470', 'Disease') :: ['hemorrhagic diathesis', 'hemorrhage']
@entity3039 :: (MESH:D016553,Disease) :: ['immune thrombocytopenic purpura']
