Resolution of immune thrombocytopenic purpura after colectomy for ulcerative colitis.

A number of different hematologic abnormalities are often encountered in patients with ulcerative colitis. Among them, thrombocytopenia is observed mostly as a side effect of therapy. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura is rarely reported in patients with ulcerative colitis, and various treatment modalities have been used for these two disorders. We report a case with ulcerative colitis and immune thrombocytopenic purpura which were cured after the colectomy. This result suggests that immune thrombocytopenic purpura is the extraintestinal manifestation of ulcerative colitis.