Malaria-induced immune thrombocytopenia

On return from Liberia, a previously healthy 36-year-old man showed signs of malaria accompanied by severe haemolysis and slight thrombocytopenia. We found evidence of a platelet-associated IgG being responsible for the thrombocytopenia, inasmuch as the direct platelet suspension immunofluorescence test was strongly positive, the indirect immunofluorescence test and tests for drug-dependent antibodies at the same time being negative. We suggest that autoimmunity may be a contributing mechanism for platelet destruction in acute malaria.