idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura melatonin

The prognosis of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to corticosteroids and splenectomy (refractory ITP) is poor; these patients present high morbidity from disease and its treatment and have a mortality rate of approximately 16%. A patient is reported with severe bleeding symptoms related to refractory ITP successfully treated with melatonin.

In addition to its well-known influence on circadian rhythms, melatonin has been described as being able to increase the number of platelets in circulating blood. This provided the rationale to evaluate melatonin for toxicity and efficacy in three patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) refractory to initial treatment with corticosteroids or splenectomy (refractory ITP). Patients received melatonin for 1 month. The therapy was continued for 2 additional months in patients with stable or responding disease...