Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura in homosexual men. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1982. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura in homosexual men.

Ann Intern Med. 1982 Jun;96(6 Pt 1):714-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/82229064
Morris L; Distenfeld A; Amorosi E; Karpatkin S

Abstract: Since November 1980 we have diagnosed 11 cases of severe autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura in homosexual men; their mean platelet count (+/- SE) was 16 000 +/- 3000/mm3. All patients have been sexually active with multiple partners and exposed to numerous viruses and drugs. During this period, we also have diagnosed 20 cases of classic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura in heterosexual persons, with a normal women to men ratio of 3:1. Eight of nine homosexual patients had elevated platelet IgG compared with normal values in eight of 10 homosexual control subjects having normal hemograms (p less than 0.01). All responded moderately or completely to steroids. The three patients who had splenectomy had excellent responses. Four of five patients had a decreased helper/suppressor T cell ratio compared to healthy controls (p less than 0.001). Circulating immune complexes and total gamma globulin levels were elevated and lymphocytes relatively decreased in homosexual patients compared with homosexual controls (p less than 0.05). Thus, some sexually-active homosexual men seem to have an increased incidence of an immune regulation disorder directed against platelets.
Keywords: Adult Autoimmune Diseases/*IMMUNOLOGY Female Gamma Globulins/IMMUNOLOGY *Homosexuality Human Immunity, Cellular Lymphatic Diseases/IMMUNOLOGY Male Platelet Count Purpura, Thrombocytopenic/*IMMUNOLOGY Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY Virus Diseases/IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDadultautoimmunediseases/KWDimmunologyfemalegammaglobulins/immunologyKWDhomosexualityhumanimmunity,cellularlymphaticdiseases/immunologymaleplateletcountpurpura,thrombocytopenic/KWDimmunologysupport,uKWDsKWDgov't,pKWDhKWDsKWDt-lymphocytes/immunologyvirusdiseases/immunologyjournalarticle
821030
M82A0016

Copyright © 1982 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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