Thrombocytopenia in Trypanosomiasis

R. M. Robins-Browne Department of Haematology, School of Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, and The South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg

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J. Schneider Department of Haematology, School of Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, and The South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg

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J. Metz Department of Haematology, School of Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, and The South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1975.24.226
Volume/Issue:
Volume 24: Issue 2
Page(s):
226–231
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In all of four patients with African trypanosomiasis, thrombocytopenia was present on admission to hospital or developed during the course of the illness. One patient with severe thrombocytopenia died following gastrointestinal haemorrhage shortly after admission to hospital. Kinetic studies in the other three patients showed marked pooling of platelets in the spleen in all, but severe shortening of platelet life-span in only one. Evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was found in 3 patients, 2 of whom received heparin therapy. These findings provide evidence that thrombocytopenia is a feature of African trypanosomiasis and is due mainly to hypertrophy of the reticuloendothelial system which accompanies the infection. In some patients immune damage to platelets or platelet consumption as part of DIC may be an additional factor contributing to the thrombocytopenia.

Author Notes

Copyright:
Copyright © 1975 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1975
Accepted:
17 Aug 1974
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Published Online:
Mar 1975
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637

Guide to the Study of Tsetse-Flies

By Prof. R. Newstead, F.R.S., with the collaboration of Alwen W. Evans, M.Sc. (Vict.) and W. H. Potts, B.A. (Contab.). Foreword by Prof. J. W. W. Stevens, F.R.S. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine—Memoir, New Series No. 1. The University Press of Liverpool Limited. Hodder and Stoughten Limited, London. Price 17/6 net

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J. H. St. John
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