Thrombocytopenia in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The association of thrombocytopenia with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) has rarely been reported. We observed thrombocytopenia in four out of the ten diabetic children newly diagnosed within the past five years. Thrombocytopenia in these patients was not so severe clinically as to cause bleeding and thus did not draw attention of the endocrinologists. It was postulated that immune mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia on the basis of elevated levels of platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) in three of the three patients on whom it was measured. Our observation suggests that mild thrombocytopenia may be a rather frequent association with IDDM. A prospective study is required in order to determine the incidence of thrombocytopenia and to clarify the significance of PAIgG in relation to other immunological abnormalities observed in IDDM. © 1998, The Kitakanto Medical Society. All rights reserved.