Platelet kinetics in human immunodeficiency virus induced thrombocytopenia.

A platelet kinetic study was performed in 34 patients (33 homosexuals and/or drug addicts) with (in most of them) severe and isolated thrombocytopenia and human immunodeficiency virus positive serological tests. The reported data indicate that the thrombocytopenia is due to an extracorpuscular hyperdestruction. The sequestration of the labeled platelets is exclusively splenic in most of the cases. Splenectomy was successful in the ten cases in which it was done; however, corticoids showed no or low effect, and Ig-G infusion had only a temporary efficacy.