SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS WITH THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA

This patient whose illness is reported below attended hospital complaining only of a rash on the legs. He was found to have systemic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.) and thrombocytopenic purpura; treatment with steroids was ineffective but splenectomy resulted in a prompt return of the platelets to normal. Case Report The patient is a man of 44, a collector of hire-purchase payments; he is of a cheerful and stoicaldisposition. He was first seen in July I957, complaining of a rash on the legs noticed for a few days. The rash was purpuric. The capillary fragility was notincreased and there were no other abnormal clinical findings, apart from scattered bruises. Investi-gations, however, showed gross abnormalities wit