Human immunoglobulin was administered intravenously to two different groups of patients to evaluate the increments of platelet count. Five patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were included in group I. Their platelet count did not exceed 100,000/μl in spite of long term therapy with steroids and with/without splenectomy. After administration of Gamimune-N, all 5 patients had increments of platelet counts. The maximum increment was up to 503%, and the maximum number of increments was up to 172,000/μl. The longest period for the increment was 63 days. Three patients who needed long term platelet transfusions (PT) who had been refractory to PT were included in group 2. One hour after PT with simultaneous Gamimune-N infusion, the platelet count did increase. Forty-eight hours after PT, only 1 of the 3 patients had a platelet count > 20,000/μl. The remaining 2 were < 20,000/μl. Thus, Gamimune-N infusion may have a better effect in patients with chronic ITP, and a rather variable effect in patients with alloimmune platelet destruction. For ITP patients requiring operation in a few days. Gaminume-N may produce increments of platelets in a short period of time, which last longer, thus enabling to be considered a suitable drug for prevention .of severe surgical bleeding complications in patients with ITP.
Human immunoglobulin was administered intravenously to two different groups of patients to evaluate the increments of platelet count. Five patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were included in group I. Their platelet count did not exceed 100,000/μl in spite of long term therapy with steroids and with/without splenectomy. After administration of Gamimune-N, all 5 patients had increments of platelet counts. The maximum increment was up to 503%, and the maximum number of increments was up to 172,000/μl. The longest period for the increment was 63 days. Three patients who needed long term platelet transfusions (PT) who had been refractory to PT were included in group 2. One hour after PT with simultaneous Gamimune-N infusion, the platelet count did increase. Forty-eight hours after PT, only 1 of the 3 patients had a platelet count > 20,000/μl. The remaining 2 were < 20,000/μl. Thus, Gamimune-N infusion may have a better effect in patients with chronic ITP, and a rather variable effect in patients with alloimmune platelet destruction. For ITP patients requiring operation in a few days. Gaminume-N may produce increments of platelets in a short period of time, which last longer, thus enabling to be considered a suitable drug for prevention .of severe surgical bleeding complications in patients with ITP.