Abstract. On return from Liberia, a previously healthy 36‐year‐old man showed signs of malaria accompanied by severe haemolysis and slight thrombocytopenia. We found evidence of a platelet‐associated IgG being responsible for the thrombocytopenia, inasmuch as the direct platelet suspension immunofluorescence test was strongly positive, the indirect immunofluorescence test and tests for drug‐dependent antibodies at the same time being negative. We suggest that autoimmunity may be a contributing mechanism for platelet destruction in acute malaria.