title: Idiopathic thrombocytopenia after cytomegalovirus infection in a renal transplant recipient.
abstract: Infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a frequent complication of organ transplantation and presents a spectrum of disease ranging from asymptomatic viremia to life-threatening tissue-invasive disease. CMV is also lymphotrophic, with the potential to induce autoimmune disease, although immunosuppressive therapy may prevent or attenuate the clinical course in transplant patients. We report a case of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura occurring in a renal transplant recipient after primary CMV infection and discuss the possible mechanisms involved.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Nephrology and Hematology, London Health Sciences Center, London, Ontario, Canada. kevinmclaughlin1@ compuserve.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruickshank
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hollomby
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jevnikar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muirhead
mesh_terms: D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000209:etiology*