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Immune thrombocytopenia attributed to brucellosis and other mechanisms of Brucella ‐induced thrombocytopenia
Author(s) -
Pappas G.,
Kitsanou M.,
Christou L.,
Tsianos E.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.10473
Subject(s) - brucellosis , medicine , doxycycline , brucella , brucella melitensis , immunology , platelet , serology , immune thrombocytopenia , cold agglutinin , immune system , antibody , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Thrombocytopenia often complicates the course of acute brucellosis, mainly due to bone marrow suppression or hypersplenism. Immune thrombocytopenia is also reported in brucellosis, resulting usually in massive thrombocytopenia, purpura, and spontaneous hemorrhage. We describe a case of acute brucellosis in an 85‐year old woman, who presented with fever, purpuric skin lesions, anemia, and rhinorrhagia. The absolute platelet count was 1000/μL. Direct and indirect Coombs tests were positive, and a cold‐agglutinin was detected. The patient was diagnosed as suffering from brucellosis on the basis of a strongly positive serologic reaction and was treated with doxycycline, streptomycin, and a short course of corticosteroids, with a rapid rise in platelet number. Am. J. Hematol. 75:139–141, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.