SPLENECTOMY FOR SEVERE HIV-RELATED THROMBOCYTOPENIA IN HEROIN ABUSERS

Our experience with splenectomy for severe HIV-related thrombocytopenia is consistent with the results reported by Oksenhendler et a1 (1987). 24 heroin abusers with HIVrelated thrombocytopenia were referred to our department from February 1984 to December 1987. Seven patients with a platelet count > 25 x lo9/] and without haemorrhages were left untreated. 17 patients with clinical bleeding and platelet count 100 x lo9/]). Six patients are in partial remission (platelet count 3065 x 109/1) without clinical bleeding. Two patients progressed from CDC stage III to IVb (18 and 24 months after splenectomy). There was no case of overt AIDS. Tsoukas et a1 (1987) observed an increase of T-lymphocytes, CD4 and CD8