DAPSONE FOR REFRACTORY CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA

Fifteen patients with refractory chronic idiopathic thrombocyopenic purpura (ITP) were treated with dapsone (100 mg/d) for 1-31 months, The overall response rate to dapsone was 40%, Five patients responded in 1 month and one patient in 2 months, No pretreatment characteristics - sex, age, platelet count or duration of ITP - were correlated with response to dapsone. Treatment was well tolerated. The most frequent adverse effect was dose-related haemolytic anaemia. In our experience, dapsone provides an inexpensive and well-tolerated altternative for patients with ITP who had inadequate responses to conventional therapy.