49 children with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were divided into non-treatment, oral prednisone (2 mg/kg), and high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (HIVMP) treatment groups which consisted of 17, 16 and 16 children respectively. Platelet counts rose above 150000/~1 over a 2-week period in 5 (29.4%) children in the first group, 5 (31.2%) in the second group and 15 (93.7%) children in the third group. Platelet counts reached the normal level in only 3 days in 11 (68.7%) children treated with HIVMP. Initially, antiplatelet antibodies (APA) were shown by the Handin and Stossel method in every patient. With normalization of platelet counts, the antibodies decreased but could still be detected in every case; antibody decrease was greater in the HIVMP group. With the exception of mild cushingoid appearance, none of the major corticosteroid side effects was observed in the treated children.

Antiplatelet antibodies were shown by the Handin and Stossel method in the sera of all 103 patients with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and in 100 cases following recovery from it. These antibodies were also shown in the sera of all 46 patients with chronic ITP and 32 cases after recovery. The decrease in level of antiplatelet antibodies was significant in all these children following recovery (P less than 0.001 for acute ITP, P less than 0.05 for chronic ITP). Antiplatelet antibodies could be determined in 67 acute and 21 chronic ITP cases in thrombocytopenic phase and following recovery, which showed very significant decreases in levels in each case in a later period. Antiplatelet antibody levels corresponding to the thrombocytopenic phase and recovery in acute and chronic ITP were significantly higher than normal and thrombocytopenic control values (P less than 0.001 for each).

In this article a family with five members suffering from primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO) is reported. Our cases are characterized by swollen and painful joints and clubbing of distal phalanges of hands and feet. The diagnosis made upon on radiological and clinical findings.

We report a case of protein C deficiency which presented with purpura fulminans. The inheritance of protein C deficiency is discussed and the importance of warfarin (Coumadin) treatment in this conditions is emphasized.

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