Danazol for children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura
M. E. Weinblatt, J. Kochen and J. Ortega
Department of Pediatrics, Cornell University Medical College, New York.
Ten patients with steroid-dependent or refractory immune thrombocytopenic
purpura were treated with danazol in an attempt to improve their platelet
counts. Nine of the ten children exhibited an excellent initial response to
the drug, with five achieving a complete, unmaintained remission. Two
others were able to have their prednisone doses tapered with a resultant
disappearance of steroid-induced adverse effects. No significant adverse
effects of danazol were noted. Danazol seems to be effective in the
treatment of children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura and would
warrant additional studies to determine its proper role in the management
of this common pediatric ailment.
