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Immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura as presenting symptom of hepatitis C infection
F Bauduer1, F Marty, M Larrouy
1Service d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier de la Côte Basque, Bayonne, France.
We report on 3 female patients with immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) for whom diagnostic procedures evidenced a chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In 2 cases, a transfusion performed more than 10 years ago represented the probable way of contamination. One patient received a course of steroids, which normalized the platelet counts. Another one has been treated with repeated IV immunoglobulins, which induced partial responses of variable duration. HCV is responsible for many autoimmune manifestations and a search for this virus seems warranted for exploring patients with ITP.
We report on 3 female patients with immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) for whom diagnostic procedures evidenced a chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In 2 cases, a transfusion performed more than 10 years ago represented the probable way of contamination. One patient received a course of steroids, which normalized the platelet counts. Another one has been treated with repeated IV immunoglobulins, which induced partial responses of variable duration. HCV is responsible for many autoimmune manifestations and a search for this virus seems warranted for exploring patients with ITP.