Immune thrombocytopenia after renal transplantation for IgA nephropathy

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura associated with renal disease is usually therapy-related, occurring after administration of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy or anti-D. Secondary cases occurring after renal transplantation are extremely rare. We present the second reported case of immune thrombocytopenic purpura occurring after renal transplantation for IgA nephropathy. Primary IgA nephropathy is the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis and although the pathogenesis of the disease remains incompletely understood, recent evidence suggests that the basic abnormality lies within the IgA immune system rather than in the kidney. We postulate a novel mechanism for thrombocytopenia occurring in such cases.