Transient elevation of platelet count in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: association with infection.
Platelet count occasionally increases after infection in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). We report 5 such patients. Three of them were males. Between November 1992 and December 2001, increased platelet counts were observed 9 times in 5 patients with chronic ITP. Corticosteroids were administered during 7 episodes; splenectomy was performed to treat 3 episodes. Antibiotics were administered in the course of 6 episodes to treat complicating infection. Platelet counts showing 1.4- to 24-fold increases have been observed. Median duration from the onset of infection until peak platelet count was 14 days. However, platelet count finally decreased to the initial level in all episodes. These findings suggest that infection is associated with the elevation of platelet count in some patients with chronic ITP, although this phenomenon is transient.
Matano
Sadaya
S
Department of Hematology, Tonami General Hospital, Japan. matano@p1.coralnet.or.jp
Kyoda
Katsunori
K
Yamazaki
Hiroto
H
Sugimoto
Tatsuho
T
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013997:Time Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000097:blood
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents