What are the common causes of anemia?
Anemia, which is common in HIV disease, is usually caused by 1) late-stage HIV, presumably due to viral infection of progenitor cells, 2) associated complications that infiltrate the marrow, 3) nutritional deficiency, 4) adverse drug reactions, or 5) iron deficiency. The findings and management are summarized in Table 10-2. What causes thrombocytopenia? Most cases are attributed to HIV infection of the multi-lineage hematopoietic progenitor cells in the marrow. This HIV-associated thrombyocytopenia can occur in relatively early HIV, but is more common with late-stage disease. Although zidovudine (AZT) may cause anemia or neutropenia, early studies showed that it reverses thrombocytopenia. For patients not receiving ART, the preferred treatment for HIV-associated thrombocytopenia is to promptly initiate ART. The decision to intervene with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) or corticosteroids is driven by signs or symptoms of active bleeding, the need to do an invasive procedure, or a la
