Slow infusion of vincristine in the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Ten patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were treated with vincristine (VCR), given as a slow infusion over a 4-hr period, at weekly intervals for 4 weeks. The VCR therapy achieved a sustained recovery of platelet count in five patients with ITP of 2 weeks to 5 months duration; a transient recovery was observed in four patients with ITP of 6 months to 5 years duration. Therapy had no effect at all in one patient who had ITP of 10 years duration. Vincristine therapy appears to be therapeutically more beneficial when given as a slow infusion and can achieve sustained recovery of platelet count in patients with ITP of less than six months duration.