Immune thrombocytopenia and ulcerative colitis

We have described a patient with simultaneous onset of antibody-positive immune thrombocytopenic purpura and ulcerative colitis, an association that must be extremely rare. Although the colitis responded to steroid therapy, the thrombocytopenia required splenectomy. The antibody was monomeric, with HLA specificity against A3 and B8 platelets.