Treatment of Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura may be defined as a disease characterized by a prolonged bleeding time and diminished platelet count associated with haemorrhages from mucous membranes and into the skin, the aetiology of which is not known. Before making a diagnosis of idio- pathic thrombocytopenic purpura it is essential to determine that no focus of infection and no sensitivity to any drug or food substances are present. The disease may occur in an acute and chronic form, and is liable to spontaneous and sometimes complete remissions. The effects of treat- ment are therefore difficult to assess. Few observers are explicit as to whether the cases reviewed are acute or chronic.