Platelet kinetics in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with special reference to corticosteroid and azathioprine therapy.

Duplicate platelet survival studies were carried out on 10 patients with SLE. At the time of the first study 5 of them (group I) were untreated and the remaining 5 (group II) were receiving corticosteroid (CS) therapy. The second study was performed while group I patients received CS and group II patients CS + azathioprine (AT) treatment. Untreated SLE patients were shown to have normal values for platelet mean life-span (MLS) and platelet production rate. CS and AT treatment did not affect either platelet MLS or platelet production rate. The present study also provides further evidence that a state of compensated thrombocytolysis is not present in SLE.