Year: 1968
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: The response of a patient with chronic severe idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), refractory to all forms of therapy, to the controlled use of anticoagulation is described. A significant elevation of the platelet count and clinical improvement accompanied the use of heparin and was sustained for a two-week period. In addition, a short-lived response was obtained with warfarin sodium. Studies of the patient’s coagulation factors during the trial of heparin therapy indicated that accelerated intravascular coagulation was not an explanation for the thrombocytopenia or for the response to anticoagulant therapy. These results provide additional evidence that anticoagulant drugs affect blood platelet economy and indicate that further investigation of the underlying mechanisms is needed.
Source: Blood
Authors: RICHARD J. COHEN, LEWIS H. DENNIS, MARCEL E. CONRAD
Institution: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Language: English
Subfield: Hematology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W225723967