Original Paper

Danazol Therapy in Refractory Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
M.G. Mazzucconi^a, M. Francesconi^a, E. Falcione^a, A. Ferrari^a, G.M. Gandolfo^b, A. Ghirardini^a, M.C. Tirindelli^a

Institute of
^aHematology, Department of Human Biopathology, and
^bVI Institute of Clinical Medicine, University 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Acta Haematol 1987;77:45-47 (DOI: 10.1159/000205948)

  Key Words

• Antiplatelet antibodies
• Danazol
• Immune thrombocytopenic purpura, chronic

  Abstract

We report our experience with danazol in the treatment of patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The effects of this drug were investigated in 10 patients, 6 males and 4 females, aged from 40 to 85 years, (median 58 years), with a platelet count below 50 × 10⁹/1. The patients had previously been treated with steroids; one of them had also been unsuccessfully splenectomized. Danazol was administered at a dosage of 600 mg/day for 3 months. Before and after treatment, detection of antiplatelet antibodies was performed. Seven patients were treated for 3 months. One of them showed a transient increase of platelet count, in the others, no significant rise was noted. Six patients experienced side effects during treatment. We think that danazol does not appear to be an alternative therapeutical approach in refractory ITP.

Copyright © 1987 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. M.G. Mazzucconi, Institute of Haematology, Via Benevento 6, I-00161 Rome (Italy)

  Article Information

Received: September 3, 1986
Accepted: October 9, 1986
Published online: February 25, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 3