[Immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura as a clinical manifestation of HIV infection].

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura may be the sole clinical manifestation of HIV infection. Results of the treatment of 6 patients with spontaneous bleeding due to severe thrombocytopenia, are presented. In all patients immune thrombocytopenic purpura was the only clinical manifestation of HIV infection. Four of them were intravenous narcotic addicts, and the other two patients did not belong to high risk groups. Prednisone treatment of 1 mg/kg daily was sufficient to resolve bleeding and achieve platelet count elevation above 50 X 10(9)/l in five of six patients. Lowering the dose of prednisone of therapy withdrawal were associated with a fall in the platelet count. In three patients the complete remission was not achieved and danazol was administered, 600-800 mg orally daily, with variable efficacy. One of these patients achieved platelet count elevation above 50 X 10(9)/l, while the two others did not respond.