Primary HIV-associated thrombocytopenia (PHAT) typically improves with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART); however, cases continue to occur. Data comparing the epidemiology of PHAT between the pre-HAART and HAART eras are limited. We retrospectively examined the incidence of PHAT over 28 years in the US Military HIV Natural History Study (NHS) from 1986 to 2013.

Subjects had a nadir platelet count <100 × 10⁹/l with no other identifiable cause. Time periods were categorized as pre-HAART (1986–1995), early HAART (1996–2001), and later HAART (2002–2013). Incidence, demographic data, and CD4 count were compared across the three eras. A generalized estimating equations model was used to assess any association of platelet count and HIV viral load in cases diagnosed during the HAART eras. 218 participants met the case definition. 86.2 % of cases occurred prior to 2002. The incidence of PHAT per 1000 person-years of follow-up was 16.3, 4.6, and 1.9 during pre-HAART, early HAART and later HAART eras respectively. CD4 cell counts were significantly higher in the HAART eras at the time of thrombocytopenia (p < 0.001). Of patients diagnosed after 1996, 96.4 % were viremic within six months preceding the platelet nadir and over half were antiretroviral naïve. Viral load (per log₁₀ copies/ml) inversely correlated with platelet count throughout the HAART eras (p < 0.0001).

The incidence of PHAT has markedly decreased in the HAART era. However, viremic individuals, including those with healthy CD4 cell counts, may be at risk. Achieving viral suppression as early as possible may decrease the incidence further.

Table 1

Characteristics of subjects diagnosed with primary HIV-associated thrombocytopenia in the US Military Natural History Study 1986–2013

	Pre-HAART era 1986–1995	Early HAART era 1996–2001	Later HAART era 2002–2013	P value
No. of cases	151	37	30
Median age (yrs) (IQR)	32 (27, 38)	34 (31, 39)	36 (29, 41)	NS
Male gender	138 (91.4 %)	36 (97.3 %)	30 (93.3 %)	NS
Race				NS
Caucasian	87 (57.6 %)	25 (67.6 %)	17 (56.7 %)
African–American	52 (34.4 %)	9 (24.3 %)	10 (33.3 %)
Hispanic	10 (6.6 %)	2 (5.4 %)	2 (6.7 %)
Other	2 (1.4 %)	1 (2.7 %)	1 (3.3 %)
Nadir platelet count
<50 × 109/l	73 (48.3 %)	11 (29.7 %)	6 (20.0 %)	0.005
<20 × 109/l	33 (21.8 %)	6 (16.2 %)	4 (13.3 %)	NS
CD4 count (cells/μl)
≤100	59 (39.1 %)	9 (24.3 %)	2 (6.7 %)
101–200	20 (13.2 %)	6 (16.2 %)	1 (3.3 %)
201–350	26 (17.2 %)	11 (29.7 %)	10 (33.3 %)
351–500	19 (12.6 %)	4 (10.8 %)	8 (26.7 %)
>500	26 (17.2 %)	6 (16.2 %)	9 (30.0 %)
Not determined	1 (0.7 %)	1 (2.7 %)
Median (IQR)	156 (30, 406)	262 (148, 378)	380 (255, 517)	<0.001