Immune thrombocytopenia in the debut of systemic lupus erythematosus

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) can be diagnosed only after excluding other diseases associated with the immune thrombocytopenia syndrome, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, etc. We present the difficulties in recognition of SLE in patient, at whom disease debuted with immune thrombocytopenia. Glucocorticosteroid therapy started for ITP blurred its symptoms. High-dose glucocorticosteroid therapy and splenectomy in a female patient with SLE were ineffective; the efficiency of cytostatic therapy is shown.