Case Report

HIV associated thrombocytopenia, misdiagnosed as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report

Farzin Khorvash¹ , Alireza Emami Naeini , Mohadesseh Behjati² and Mohammad Jalali³

¹  Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

²  Resident of Cardiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

³  School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

author email corresponding author email

Cases Journal 2009, 2:175doi:10.1186/1757-1626-2-175

Published:	29 October 2009

Abstract

Introduction

Thrombocytopenia is one of the protean hematological manifestations of infection by human immunodeficiency virus. We present a case where diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection was delayed because thrombocytopenia was the only presenting feature.

Case presentation

A female presented with chief complaint of fever, productive coughs weight loss and nocturnal sweating; was detected to have thrombocytopenia on a complete blood count, performed five months ago. Her other clinical chemistry and hematological investigations were normal. She was previously diagnosed as having TTP, and had received 55 sessions of plasma exchange before presenting to us. At this time she was detected to be HIV positive, had CD4+ counts of 26/mm3, treated with antiretroviral drugs and Cotrimoxazol, and discharged asymptomatically.

Conclusion

HIV should be suspected in all cases of unexplained thrombocytopenia.