Multiple autoimmune manifestations in a splenectomized subject with HLA-B8.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura developed in a 31-year-old man, and he underwent a splenectomy because of his failure to respond to steroid therapy. Subsequently, during a six-year follow-up, chronic active hepatitis, Coombs' positive hemolytic anemia, and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis developed. Since such a clustering of autoimmune manifestations in a single subject is unusual, possible contributing factors were sought. We suggest that both the splenectomy and the histocompatibility antigen HLA-B8, which the patient was found to carry, may have contributed to this rare clinical syndrome.
D000328:Adult; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000209:etiology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000601:surgery; D013156:Splenectomy
D006680:HLA Antigens; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen