Congenital essential thrombocytopenia or congenital morbus maculosus werlhofii is a rare condition. Rushmore reviewed the literature up to 1925 and collected six cases of congenital thrombocytopenia. In the cases collected by Rushmore1 and in that reported by Liebling,2 the mothers also manifested symptoms of thrombocytopenia during the last few months of pregnancy. Waltner3 observed a case in a new-born premature infant whose mother had had signs and symptoms of thrombocytopenic purpura since she was 15 years of age. We observed a case of essential thrombocytopenia in a new-born infant who died fourteen days after birth. Observations at necropsy permitted us to draw conclusions as to the origin of the pathologic changes in the blood. These conclusions will be discussed subsequently.
REPORT OF CASE
History.—J. K., a boy, was born in the United Israel Zion Hospital on Dec. 13, 1928. Delivery was normal; the infant cried lustily