Danazol therapy combined with intermittent application of chemotherapy induces lasting remission in myeloproliferative disorder (MPD): an alternative for the elderly with advanced MPD.

There is no good alternative therapy available for elderly patients with advanced myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) who failed on conventional therapies and are not candidates for bone marrow transplant. We report here an effective therapy that induced exceptionally long-lasting remissions and improved quality of life. Eighteen elderly patients (mean age: 70·6 years) (16 myelofibrosis and 2 thrombocythemia) who had failed on conventional therapies were treated.

Interleukin-11 for treatment of hepatitis C-associated ITP.

Background: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is frequently associated with chronic hepatitis C (HpC-ITP).

Methods: Recombinant interleukin-11 (rIL-11), which has both thrombopoietic and anti-inflammatory properties, was evaluated in 12 patients with HpC-ITP in this pilot study. Group 1 (7 patients) was treated at high dose (50 microg/kg daily) while group 2 (5 patients) at low dose (15-35 microg/kg three/week).

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and severe ITP.

Introduction: Platelets play an important role in inflammatory and immune responses. We report interstitial lung disease (ILD) developing during the acute phase of severe thrombocytopenia in 3 patients with severe refractory ITP.

Methods And Results: We identified 3 cases with severe ITP who developed ILD in the course of refractory chronic ITP.