Subcutaneous anti-d globulin application is a safe treatment option of immune thrombocytopenia in children

Subcutaneous (sc) administration of anti-d seems to offer the same efficacy as intravenous administration but with less side effects. Here we report our experience with sc anti-d for pediatric immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). A total of 12 children with a median age of 11.2 years had been treated by sc anti-d. They received a median of 2 sc anti-d applications (range 1–31) with a dosage of 250–375 IE/kg body weight. Only in one out of a total of 102 single applications, a minimal and self-limited side effect (chills) had been observed. The mean platelet count was almost doubled after sc anti-d (p < 0.0001). After a median follow-up of 11.4 months, all patients are alive without major bleeding and stay well. We conclude that sc anti-d is not only an efficient means of treating ITP in children but is also a safe and convenient one.