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Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
Published on: October 31, 2010
Haematological abnormalities in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
F J Raal1, E M Wypkema, R D Baynes
1Department of Medicine, Johannesburg Hospital.
Abstract:
Full haematological data were available on 22 of the first 30 patients with proven acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) admitted to Johannesburg Hospital before July 1987. Reversal of the helper/suppressor T-cell ratio was present in all cases and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia in 85% of cases. Sixty-eight per cent of patients were anaemic, 55% leucopenic, 77% lymphopenic and 23% thrombocytopenic. Four patients (out of 12 tested) exhibited a positive Coombs test (25%) and 2 patients (out of 13 tested) had a circulating lupus anticoagulant (15%). Bone marrow examination revealed all patients to be either normo- or hypercellular. Three patients exhibited haemophagocytosis. Given the increasing incidence of AIDS and the frequency of haematological abnormalities in this condition, the practising clinician should have a high index of suspicion when confronted by any unexplained haematological abnormality.
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