title: Severe thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic diathesis due to brucellosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to examine cases of brucellosis that presented with severe thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic diathesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 10 brucellosis cases with severe thrombocytopenia were included in this case-series study. Patients' files were reviewed for their clinical and laboratory findings, as well as clinical outcomes and complications. Platelet counts of < 20,000/mm³ were diagnosed as severe thrombocytopenia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lowest thrombocyte count was 3000/mm³ while the highest was 19,000/mm³ (mean: 12,000/mm³). Patients had the following symptoms: epistaxis (7 cases), petechia with epistaxis (4 cases), bleeding gums (3 cases), ecchymosis with epistaxis (2 cases), melena and renal failure (2 cases), and hematuria (1 case). Patients were given rifampicin and doxycycline along with supportive hematological therapy. All were treated successfully with no evidence of recurrence at follow-up visits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since brucellosis is endemic in developing countries, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases that present with severe thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic diathesis.
authors.affiliation: Harran University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sanliurfa, Turkey. hasankarsen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karsen
authors.forename: Fazilet
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duygu
authors.forename: Kubilay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yapıcı
authors.forename: Ali İrfan
authors.initials: Aİ
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taskıran
authors.forename: İrfan
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Binici
mesh_terms: D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006474:Hemorrhagic Disorders; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013921:Thrombocytopenia
chemical_list: D012293:Rifampin