Eosinophilic purpura--the syndrome of acquired platelet dysfunction with eosinophilia--a tropical phenomenon.

Eosinophilic purpura, the syndrome of acquired platelet dysfunction with eosinophilia was first recognized in Singaporean children and later described in Thai children. It is a benign, transient thrombopathy associated with significant eosinophilia and characterized by the sudden onset of a superficial bleeding tendency. The first young adult with this haemostatic disturbance was documented in a National Servicemen 4 years ago. We report here our experience with 16 such patients (13 males, 3 females) and concur with the original observers on the benign nature of this syndrome. Stool helminths were present in 50% of the cases but the duration of symptoms and platelet dysfunction appeared unaffected by the rapidity with which the eosinophil count returned to normal following antihelminthic treatment. If platelet aggregation study is readily available it is desirable to document the presence of an abnormal platelet response to one or more aggregating agents but without it, it is still possible to diagnose this syndrome fairly confidently in the healthy, young patient in the first or second decade of life who develops recent onset bruising with or without mucosal bleeding, whose preliminary blood cell counts are normal apart from a moderate to marked absolute eosinophilia.