Immunosuppressive treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children.

Eleven children with symptomatic idiopathic thrombocytopenia were treated with immunosuppressive agents. Ten children received cyclophosphamide; 1 was given azathioprine. Only 1 child produced a full response, and 6 subsequently needed splenectomy which was curative. It is concluded that immunosuppressive treatment is ineffective in childhood thrombocytopenia and that splenectomy remains the treatment of choice for the rare case which fails to settle spontaneously or respond to corticosteroids.