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In systemic tupus erythematosus (SLE) various antibodies are produced against cells including platelets and restult in thrombocytopenia. In the literature, the incidence of thrombocytopenia varied from 7% to 52%, in seven series of SLE patients with a mean cumulative percentage of 14.5%(1-5). SLE patients referred to the Lupus Linit of the Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran Liniversity for Medical Sciences (Shariati Hospital) during the period of I975 to 1977 were included in this study. Thrombocytopenic patients were selected and Z2 items were studied. The incidence of tirombocytopenia in Iranian SLE patients was 16.6%, which is similar to the mean cumulative percentage mentioned above. There was no difference in ser ratio between titrombocytopenic and nonthrombocytopenic patients. The same was true for the mean age at the onset of the disease. In 70% of patients there was mild to moderate …