Localized scleroderma and idiopathic thrombocytopenia.

Two patients with localized scleroderma who developed thrombocytopenic purpura are reported. In both patients the thrombocytopenia improved after prednisone therapy, and has not recurred in 5 and 8 yr of subsequent observation without steroids. Both patients had a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test and 1 had a positive assay for immune complexes by the Clq solid phase radioimmunoassay. Non-immune causes for the lowered platelets were not found. This possible association may add a new, potentially life-threatening dimension to localized scleroderma.