Postgrad Med J 1999;75:744-747
( December )
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Refractory thrombocytopenia, recurrent abortions and inferior
vena cava thrombosis
Atul Kakar, Ved Prakash
Department of
Internal Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi 60, India
Correspondence to: Dr Atul
Kakar, 31 South Patel Nagar, New Delhi 10008, India
Accepted 20 April 1999
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
 |
Introduction |
A 23-year-old woman was admitted in January 1983 with
complaints of purpuric spots all over her body for 4 days prior to
admission. She had been married for 3 years, had undergone three
spontaneous abortions (one first trimester and two second trimester),
and had one live birth. On examination, she had no splenomegaly.
Investigations revealed a haemoglobin of 11.2 g/dl, total leukocyte
count 4 × 109/l (polymorphs 64%, lymphocytes 36%),
erythrocyte sedimentation rate 12 mm in first hour, platelets 40 × 109/l. Blood film showed isolated thrombocytopenia. Renal
function, liver function tests, chest X-ray and ultrasound of the
abdomen were normal. Bone marrow aspiration showed increased
megakaryocytes while other cell lines were normal. Antinuclear antibody
(ANA) and dsDNA were negative. A platelet antibody test was not
available. The patient had isolated thrombocytopenia without any
systemic illness. A diagnosis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
(ITP) was considered. The patient was started on 60 mg prednisolone per
day. The platelet . . . [Full text of this article]