Kaposi's sarcoma with thrombocytopenia in a heterosexual Asian Indian male.

ABSTRACT

A 45-year-old heterosexual male patient with retroviral disease since 12 years presented with hyperpigmented lesions, misdiagnosed initially as purpura due to an associated thrombocytopenia, but was biopsy proven to be Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Bone marrow examination revealed excess megakaryocytes. Low CD4 count and absence of platelet specific IgG reduced the likelihood of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However after 6 weeks of antiretroviral therapy the patient's lesions have reduced and platelet counts are improving, possibly suggesting a sequestration thrombocytopenia in the abnormal tumor vessels of KS.