| What is Rho Immune (D) Globulin also known as WinRho®? |
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 | WinRho( is a medicine used to treat Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). |
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| It is given to increase the platelet count. |
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| How WinRho® works is not completely understood. |
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| I.T.P is an autoimmune disease in which your body makes antibodies against platelets. |
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| These "antibody coated platelets" are seen as "foreign" cells by the body and are destroyed. |
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| WinRho® is a medicine that contains a high amount of antibodies that like to attach to red blood cells. |
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| After treatment with WinRho®, the body becomes "busy" destroying these "antibody coated red blood cells" therefore leaving the "antibody coated platelets" alone. |
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| In a sense, WinRho® causes a mild anemia (low red blood cell count) intentionally, to allow the platelet count in the body to rise. |
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| How is WinRho® made? |
| WinRho® comes from human plasma. Human plasma is the liquid part of the blood that does not contain red blood cells. |
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| Special processes are used in manufacturing WinRho® to make it safe. These processes clean out any known viruses that may be found in human plasma. |
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| What are the benefits of WinRho®? |
| WinRho® has been shown to temporarily raise platelet counts in patients with I.T.P. |
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| WinRho® may be administered quickly over a few minutes. |
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| WinRho® is significantly less expensive than some other treatments used to treat I.T.P. |
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| How is WinRho® given? |
| WinRho® is given in the vein by intravenous infusion. |
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| WinRho® is given during an outpatient visit in the Center for Ambulatory Treatment and Clinical Research (CAT/CR) on Farley 4. |
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| Most WinRho® infusions take 30-60 minutes. |
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| During the infusion, a nurse will carefully observe you/your child. |
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| What are the possible side effects of WinRho®? |
| Temporary side effects from WinRho® are common and may include: |
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 | fever |
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| chills |
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| headache |
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| nausea/vomiting |
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| anemia |
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| To avoid or minimize these symptoms you/your child may receive medication immediately before treatment with WinRho®. You/your child may receive additional IV fluid during your treatment. This extra fluid has been shown to ease side effects. |
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| What are the risks of WinRho®? |
| There is always a small risk that blood products may contain viruses that cause infection. |
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| There is small chance that a severe allergic reaction to WinRho® may occur. If that happens, the WinRho( infusion will be stopped. Medications used to treat allergic reactions will be given immediately. |
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| WinRho® causes mild anemia in many patients, and rarely (in about 1 in 100 patients or less) can cause significant anemia and breakdown of red blood cells. |
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| Avoid "live" vaccines (check with your doctor) within 3 months of WinRho®. |
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| Are there choices that work as well as WinRho®? |
| There is more than one way to treat ITP. |
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| These treatments include, but are not limited to steroids, gammaglobulin, observation, and splenectomy. |
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| Each treatment, including WinRho®, has its own benefits and risks as well as cost consideration. |
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| You and your/your child's physician, working together, are best equipped to decide the best treatment for you/your child. |
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| Who to Call with Questions |
| If you have questions or concerns, please call your/your child's primary hematologist. |
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