Agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenic purpura following measles infection in a living‐related orthotopic liver transplantation recipient

Abstract

Agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenic purpura occurred simultaneously following measles infection in a 2-year-old girl who had received a living-related orthotopic liver transplantation. Neutrophil and platelet counts rose to more than 0.5 x 10(3)/mm and 30 x 10(3)/mm3, respectively, 8 weeks after the onset of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, and within 2 weeks from the start of subcutaneous injection of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Simultaneous occurrence of measles infection, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia has not been described before in the literature. An autoimmune mechanism was suspected because serum levels of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (IgG) and anti-neutrophil antibody were evaluated during the acute phase.