Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Children: Results of Steroid Therapy and Splenectomy

SYNOPSIS This survey comprises a retrospective analysis of 132 cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) treated at the Royal Children's Hospital from 1958 to 1966 inclusive. There was a high spontaneous remission rate in this disease in children. A comparison of the results of treatment with and without steroids suggests that steroids initially help to control the bleeding tendency and in some cases a temporary elevation in platelet count follows their use. However in the two groups there was no difference in the long‐term remission rate or in the remission time. While only about half the splenectomized patients have achieved full remission with a normal platelet count, they were all symptomless without the use of long‐term steroids.