High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin and splenectomy for the treatment of HIV-related immune thrombocytopenia in patients with severe haemophilia

Four patients with severe haemophilia A and one patient with severe Christmas disease developed severe immune thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 20 x 10(9)/l). All five patients were HIV-antibody positive and one was HIV-antigen positive. Four patients were treated initially with prednisolone, but with only a transient platelet response in three and no response in the fourth. All patients were treated with high dose intravenous immunoglobulin (0.4 g/kg daily for 5 d) resulting in a rise in platelet count in all cases (range 138-300 x 10(9)/l) and then proceeded to splenectomy. Three remain in complete remission after 6-14 months, and one showed a good response with platelet counts ranging from 103 to 187 x 10(9)/l. The fifth patients achieved a normal platelet count for 3 months post-splenectomy, but suffered a relapse with platelet counts ranging from 25 to 108 x 10(9)/l over the next 3 years. However, following a severe Varicella infection 10 months ago, during which he developed a marked transient thrombocytosis, he has also maintained a normal platelet count.