Hyposplenism from Mycobacterium avium complex infection in a patient with AIDS and immune thrombocytopenia

We describe a patient with HIV-related immune thrombocytopenic purpura with known Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage associated with severe thrombocytopenia who failed splenectomy following unsuccessful trials of corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin. His presplenectomy peripheral blood smear showed Howell-Jolly bodies and microscopic examination of his spleen demonstrated multiple granulomas with numerous acid-fast organisms replacing the normal splenic tissue. We postulate that splenic hypofunction secondary to overwhelming MAC infection contributed to the failure of the thrombocytopenia to promptly respond to splenectomy.