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Refractory immune thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus: response to mycophenolate mofetil

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, sheilav{at}nuh.com.sg

J Thumboo

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore

K-Y Fong

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Immune thrombocytopenia(IT) is a common manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although severe IT (< 20 x10 ⁹/L) occurs in about 5-10% of patients, usually in the context of active disease, the absence of randomized controlled trials has not allowed the development of evidence-basedguidelinesfor managing this condition.Conventionally, high-doseglucocorticoidsare consideredfirst-line therapy. Adjunctivemedical and surgical treatments for patients with an absent or partial response to glucocorticoids have met with varying degrees of success. We describe an SLE patient with IT refractory to high-dose corticosteroids, pulse methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, whose platelet counts normalized during therapy with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Pending further controlled studies to confirm this observation, we suggest that MMF may be considered as a therapeutic option in the treatment of glucocorticoid-refractory immune thrombocytopenia in SLE.

Key Words: mycophenolic acid • systemic lupus erythematosus • thrombocytopenia

Lupus, Vol. 12, No. 8, 630-632 (2003)
DOI: 10.1191/0961203303lu417cr


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