Severe bleeding associated with worsening thrombocytopenia following alpha interferon therapy for autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura

Abstract

Some patients with autoimmune idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) have a prolonged course and are refractory to many types of treatment. New forms of treatment are being sought and recombinant alpha interferon-2b has been used with success in some cases (Proctor et al. 1988a). Proctor and colleagues have recommended alpha interferon-2b as a safe therapy in steroid-unresponsive ITP (Proctor et al. 1989) but death from cerebral haemorrhage has been reported in a patient who had a fall in platelet count following interferon therapy for ITP (Matthey et al, 1990). We report two further cases of refractory ITP in whom the use of alpha interferon-2b resulted in a fall in the platelet count and was associated with severe intestinal bleeding.