HERPES TESTER-ASSOCIATED IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA IN A LIVER-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT - A CASE-REPORT AND OVERVIEW

Idiopathic (autoimmune) thrombocytopenic purpura has been previously r eported as a rare complication in children and in a few adults followi ng chickenpox. We report a case of varicella zoster virus-associated i diopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in an adult liver transplant recipi ent following dermatomal tester. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura d eveloped 3 days after the onset of herpes tester in our patient, with a nadir platelet count of 3000/mm(3). The patient was treated with int ravenous gamma globulin with recovery of thrombocytopenia after 3 week s. Transplant clinicians need to be aware that this serious and potent ially life-threatening complication may occur with herpes tester in tr ansplant recipients.