Intravenous gamma globulin is effective as an urgent treatment in Brucella-induced severe thrombocytopenic purpura

Abstract

Severe thrombocytopenia is a rare hematologic manifestation of brucellosis, which can occasionally be associated with bleeding into the skin and from mucosal sites. Prompt recognition of this brucellosis complication and aggressive therapy is vital because the mortality rate associated with bleeding into the central nervous system is high. We report a case of a patient infected with Brucella melitensis who was admitted with a severe case of thrombocytopenic purpura. The patient responded well to intravenous gamma globulin (IVIg) treatment with platelet recovery within 2-3 days. For cases of Brucella-induced thrombocytopenic purpura, IVIg may be administered as an urgent therapy until the microbial therapy takes effect. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.