title: Haematological abnormalities in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: Full haematological data were available on 22 of the first 30 patients with proven acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) admitted to Johannesburg Hospital before July 1987. Reversal of the helper/suppressor T-cell ratio was present in all cases and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia in 85% of cases. Sixty-eight per cent of patients were anaemic, 55% leucopenic, 77% lymphopenic and 23% thrombocytopenic. Four patients (out of 12 tested) exhibited a positive Coombs test (25%) and 2 patients (out of 13 tested) had a circulating lupus anticoagulant (15%). Bone marrow examination revealed all patients to be either normo- or hypercellular. Three patients exhibited haemophagocytosis. Given the increasing incidence of AIDS and the frequency of haematological abnormalities in this condition, the practising clinician should have a high index of suspicion when confronted by any unexplained haematological abnormality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johannesburg Hospital.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Raal
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wypkema
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Baynes
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins