Thrombocytopenic Purpura Following Rubella Infection in Children and Adults

RUBELLA usually is a benign, self-limited exanthem that is encountered most often in children and young adults. Thrombocytopenic purpura following rubella infection was first described in 1929 by Pitten.1More than 60 additional cases have been reported,2-9over half of which have been described since 1960.3-9The present report describes 15 patients with post-rubella thrombocytopenia seen by the authors in the Baltimore area. Two of the previously reported patients2,3and one in the current series died of hemorrhage. Observations Fourteen of our patients were seen during the 1964 epidemic of rubella. The records of 63 patients admitted to the Pediatric Service of the Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1940 to 1963 with a diagnosis of "idiopathic" thrombocytopenic purpura were reviewed, and one additional patient (case 15) with post-rubella thrombocytopenia was found. The findings in our 15 cases are summarized in Table 1. Nine of the 15 patients had a history of