Refractory immune thrombocytopenia. Successful treatment with repeated cyclosporine A: two case reports.

ABSTRACT

Treatment of chronic, severe refractory immune thrombocytopenia after splenectomy is difficult. Only less data exist on clinical use of cyclosporine A (CyA) in the management of refractory ITP. In this report, we describe two cases in which standard immunosuppressive therapy, other immunosuppression including cyclosporine A or splenectomy had no therapeutic effect. Even after splenectomy, recommended procedures were inefficient and critical thrombocytes count persisted. After repeated administration of cyclosporine A which had been ineffective prior to splenectomy; however, both patients achieved long-term complete remission of the ITP. Side effects of CyA were moderate. The presented cases have confirmed the potential therapeutic effect of CyA in refractory post-SE ITP.