Weber, SF and Rai, S and Reddy, R and Belurkar, S and Saravu, Kavitha (2017) Immune Thrombocytopenia Secondary to Tuberculosis: A Case and Review of Literature. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 21 (4). pp. 466-470. ISSN 1027-3719

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Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an auto-immune condition that results in isolated thrombocytopenia associated with possibly lethal haemorrhage. In its secondary form, ITP can be triggered by many infectious and non-infectious conditions. Secondary ITP associated with tuberculosis (TB) has rarely been described in the literature. We report on a 22-year-old patient presenting with hypermenorrhoea and petechiae due to ITP secondary to tuberculous lymphadenitis. Normalisation of thrombocytopenia was only achieved after initiation of anti- uberculosis treatment following failure of thrombocyte substitution and immune-modulatory treatment. A search of the literature available on TB-associated ITP identified 50 cases published between 1964 and 2016.We reviewed all cases using suggested case definitions on the likelihood of association between ITP and TB. A broad spectrum of TB sites was reported to be associated with ITP, and anti-tuberculosis treatment was the most effective therapy for platelet count normalisation. Time from initiation of anti-tuberculosis treatment to platelet count recovery ranged from 2 days to 3 months. In endemic regions, TB should be considered as an underlying cause of ITP. Early diagnosis of TB and initiation of anti-tuberculosis treatment appears crucial for rapid platelet count recovery, and can reduce the risks associated with long-term immunosuppression, transfusions and the time at risk for haemorrhage

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