TRANSMISSION OF IDIOPATHIC (AUTOIMMUNE) THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA BY LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

Chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disorder in which the destruction of autologous platelets is mediated by autoantibodies directed against platelet-surface constituents.1 Glycoproteins IIb and IIIa, which exist in the platelet membrane in a 1:1 complex (IIb-IIIa), appear to be the main target molecules for these autoantibodies.2 3 4 The destruction of autologous platelets is thought to result from the ingestion of autoantibody-coated platelets by phagocytic cells in the spleen and other organs.1 The functional state of the reticuloendothelial system may influence the rate of cell destruction in individual patients.5 We recently encountered a patient who had severe, life-threatening thrombocytopenia after. © 1990, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.