Bolus methylprednisolone therapy in adult idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Eleven patients with adult idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were treated with bolus methylprednisolone at doses of 1 g/day for 3 days. In nine of eleven patients the platelet count rose to more than 100 X 10(9)/l during 2-9 days. In two other patients, it rose to 81 X 10(9)/l and 43 X 10(9)/l. In six of eleven patients splenectomy was carried out without any platelet transfusion when the platelets rose to more than 100 X 10(9)/l after bolus mPSL therapy. Bolus mPSL therapy is efficient as a pre-treatment for a planned splenectomy in adult ITP.