Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura in the course of Kaposi's sarcoma--report of a case.

Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura associated with Kaposi's sarcoma in a 42-year-old male from the south of Saudi Arabia is reported. This association has not previously been reported in the medical literature. The occurrence of Kaposi's sarcoma in renal transplant recipients and in those suffering from acquired immune deficiency syndrome has been well documented. Kaposi's sarcoma has been infrequently reported in association with autoimmune disorders. The diagnosis of autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura was made after all secondary causes of thrombocytopenic purpura has been excluded. The diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma was confirmed by the histopathological examination of a skin biopsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such an association.