Thrombocytopenia in HIV-Infected Patients

Thrombocytopenia is a common feature among HIV-positive patients. However, there are few reports about this subject after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) introduction. The authors show a retrospective description of epidemiology, clinical aspects, and treatment observed in 55 HIV-positive outpatients with thrombocytopenia treated in two reference centers for HIV treatment in So Paulo, Brazil. Thirty-four (62%) patients were male, 50 (91%) were Caucasian, with median of lymphocytes TCD4 of 394 cells/mm(3). In 63.6% patients, the cause of thrombocytopenia was classified as immune thrombocytopenic purpura and non immune in 25.5%. Regular use of HAART was present in 43.6% of the population studied. In 20% HAART was initiated for thrombocytopenia treatment with improvement in platelets count observed after 3 months. Platelet transfusion was needed in 23.7% of the patients and one patient died due to bleeding. Thrombocytopenia is still common among patients infected with HIV, considered a multifactor disorder, commonly due to immune mechanisms in our cases. In the clinical setting, a diagnostic approach related to the hematological consequences of HIV infection is needed for a better therapy option for this population.