Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura During Maintenance Phase of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Rare Coexistence Requiring a High Degree of Suspicion, a Case Report and Review of the Literature

Turk J Haematol. 2015 Dec;32(4):363-6. doi: 10.4274/tjh.2014.0138. Epub 2015 Apr 27.

Abstract

Thrombocytopenia may develop in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) due to myelosuppression of chemotherapy or relapse. Here we report a pediatric patient with ALL whose platelet counts decreased at the 102nd week of maintenance treatment. Thrombocytopenia was refractory to platelet infusions and bone marrow aspiration revealed remission status for ALL along with increased megakaryocytes. The cessation of chemotherapy for 2 weeks caused no increase in thrombocyte counts. The viral serology was unrevealing. A diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was established. After administration of intravenous immunoglobulin, the thrombocytopenia resolved. When thrombocytopenia occurs in patients with ALL in remission, ITP should be kept in mind after exclusion of the more common etiologies.

Akut lenfoblastik lösemi (ALL) tanılı hastalarda trombositopeni, kemoterapiye ikincil kemik iliği baskılanması veya hastalığın relapsı sonucu gelişebilir. Olgumuz ALL idame tedavisinin 102. haftasında gelişen trombositopeni nedeniyle incelendiği sırada immün trombositopenik purpura (İTP) tanısı almıştır. Trombositopeninin trombosit infüzyonuna rağmen dirençli olması üzerine yapılan kemik iliği aspirasyonunda löseminin remisyonda olduğu ve megakaryositlerin artmış olduğu görüldü. Kemoterapiye iki hafta ara verilmesine rağmen trombosit sayısında artma olmadı. Viral seroloji sonuçları aktif enfeksiyon ile uyumlu değildi. Hastaya İTP tanısı konuldu. İntravenöz immünoglobulin tedavisi ile trombositopeni düzeldi. Remisyondaki ALL hastalarında trombositopeni geliştiğinde, daha sık görülen nedenler dışlandıktan sonra İTP de akılda bulundurulmalıdır.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Maintenance Chemotherapy
  • Mercaptopurine / administration & dosage
  • Mercaptopurine / adverse effects
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage
  • Platelet Count
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / blood
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / diagnosis*
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / etiology
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Vincristine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Methotrexate