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Infections and Thrombocytopenia in Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) - A Case Report
Abstract
This is a case report to study the association between episodes of thrombocytopenia and bacterial infections in a patient with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).The case was a 31 year old female patient, with a history of chronic ecchymosis, melaena stool and menorrhagia, who presented at the female Medical Ward and Pathology Laboratory of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
Her sputum culture yielded gram positive cocci and gram negative bacilli, on three occasions, simultaneously with low platelet count and thrombocytopenia in the blood film. The platelet counts improved when the infectious agent was eliminated with antibiotics.
We conclude that the presence of bacterial infection and a low platelet count, with subsequent improvement of the platelet count following antibiotic therapy suggest an association between bacterial infection and thrombocytopenia in chronic ITP. This is the first reported case in this environment. There is a need to identify and vigorously treat bacterial infection with antibiotics in ITP patients prior to steroid usage.
Sahel Medical Journal Vol.7(3) 2004: 101-105
Her sputum culture yielded gram positive cocci and gram negative bacilli, on three occasions, simultaneously with low platelet count and thrombocytopenia in the blood film. The platelet counts improved when the infectious agent was eliminated with antibiotics.
We conclude that the presence of bacterial infection and a low platelet count, with subsequent improvement of the platelet count following antibiotic therapy suggest an association between bacterial infection and thrombocytopenia in chronic ITP. This is the first reported case in this environment. There is a need to identify and vigorously treat bacterial infection with antibiotics in ITP patients prior to steroid usage.
Sahel Medical Journal Vol.7(3) 2004: 101-105
