Factors predicting response to splenectomy in adult patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

• Published in: Haematologica (Roma) Vol. 85; no. 10; pp. 1040 - 1044
• Main Authors: Radaelli, F, Faccini, P, Goldaniga, M, Guggiari, E, Pozzoli, E, Maiolo, AT, Ciani, A, Pogliani, EM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pavia Haematologica 01.10.2000
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Platelet Count; Platelet diseases and coagulopathies; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic - blood; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic - physiopathology; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic - surgery; Sex Factors; Splenectomy; Treatment Outcome; Human; Immunopathology; Corticosteroid; Treatment efficiency; Hemopathy; Splenectomy; Chemotherapy; Platelet; Treatment; Surgery; Adult; Evolution; Predictive factor; Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
• ISSN: 0390-6078; 1592-8721

Servizio di Ematologia Diagnostica, Ospedale Maggiore, IRCCS, via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy. caabsa@tin.it BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES. Splenectomy is the treatment of choice in the majority of patients affected by idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to corticosteroid therapy, but it is not free from early and late complications. As the available literature does not seem to contain any precise indications concerning possible factors predicting the response to splenectomy, the aim of this retrospective study of 65 splenectomized patients was to attempt to identify potentially predictive clinical or laboratory parameters. DESIGN AND METHODS. For the purposes of statistical analysis, the patients were divided into two groups: the first included those with a complete (platelets > 100x10(9)/L) or partial response (platelets 50-100 x10(9)/L) to splenectomy; the second, the non-responders (platelets