Abstract
The management of thrombocytopenia associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) includes therapy with prednisone and zidovudine and, in cases unresponsive to medical therapy, splenectomy. 1 We recently attended an HIV-infected patient who had symptomatic thrombocytopenia that did not reverse after triple antiretroviral therapy. The patient was a 42-year-old man who had had HIV primary infection without thrombocytopenia 4 years before. Three months after diagnosis, pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae conjugate vaccine were administered. He has not had opportunistic infections or other conditions defining acquired immunodeficiency syndrome to date. On April 1994, zidovudine monotherapy was started because of a decline in platelet and CD4 cell counts ( Figure ). Results of tests for antiplatelet antibodies were negative. His platelet count at that time was 16×10 9 /L. The patient transiently responded to zidovudine therapy, but he also needed short courses of prednisone therapy. However, each time prednisone use was discontinued, platelet counts decreased. During
Published Version
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