Thrombocytopenia in congenital heart disease.

It is well known that idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura occurs most commonly during childhood but its incidence is difficult to estimate. MacFarlane (1960) found that in 737 cases 45 per cent were aged 15 years and younger, while Wintrobe (1956) noted that in childhood purpura was most frequent between the ages of two and eight years. The disease is uncommon in the general population. The present communication describes five children who were found to have thrombocytopenic purpura. Four of these appeared in a group of 100 patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease, while one was found in a much larger group of patients with acyanotic congenital heart disease.