Predictive prognostic factors after splenectomy in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Splenectomy is an important treatment option in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). We retrospectively analyzed 52 ITP patients splenectomized in our hospital in the past 31 years, and found that 4 factors might indicate a better prognosis: younger age (p=0.011), higher preoperative minimum platelet count (p=0.033), lesser prednisolone dosage (≤ 40mg/day) for maintaining the maximum platelet count before splenectomy (p=0.013); and the lowest platelet count ≥ 50×10 9 /L within 14 days after splenectomy (p<0.005). Multivariate analysis showed that age and steroid dosage for maintaining the maximum platelet count preoperatively were the predictive factors before splenectomy in the ITP patients who received splenectomy.