Multiple hepatitis attacks with immunothrombocytopenia in a heroin addict.
A 25-year-old heroin-addict had four episodes of acute hepatitis, each of them associated with thrombocytopenia. Serologically, hepatitis A and B as well as cytomegalo- or Epstein-Barr virus infections were excluded. High levels of circulating immune complexes and antibodies reacting with aminophospholipids, a component of both liver cell and platelet membranes, were detected during the last two attacks of hepatitis, but were absent during remission. Platelet-associated antibodies of the IgM class paralleled the 'anti-phospholipid' antibodies during the fourth attack. These findings demonstrate an immunological basis of the thrombocytopenia and point to the possibility of a direct association between liver cell injury and peripheral platelet destruction in certain patients.
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000209:etiology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000276:immunology; D012008:Recurrence; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D010743:Phospholipids