Mechanisms of corticosteroid action in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP): Experimental studies using ITP-prone mice, (NZW x BXSB) F1

Abstract

To determine the mechanism by which platelet counts increase after corticosteroid therapy for human immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), we studied the platelet kinetics using prednisolone (PDN)-treated ITP-prone mice, (NZW x BXSB) F1 (W/B F1). An increase in platelet counts was observed in W/B F1 mice (n = 10, mean ± SD, 1,202 ± 202 x 103/μL) 4 weeks after treatment with PDN (2 mg/ kg/d); no increase occurred in nontreated W/B F1 mice (n = 5, 651 ± 126, P