Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a frequent and well recognized complication of lymphoproliferative diseases (especially chronic lymphatic leukemia), but it is an unusual and poorly documented disease in the acute phase (1-2%). We report on two female patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) followed between 1970 and 1995 at the institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology "Seràgnoli" in Bologna, who developed ITP unrelated to bone marrow failure, 26 and 15 months after achievement of complete hematologic remission from HD.