Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia associated with proliferation of gamma/delta TCR T-lymphocytes and a BCR-ABL (p210) fusion transcript

Eur J Haematol. 2004 Nov;73(5):372-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2004.00316.x.

Abstract

Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (AATP) in adults is a rare disorder characterized by severe thrombocytopenia and decreased or absent megakaryocytes in an otherwise normal bone marrow. We present a 44-yr-old man in whom the diagnosis of AATP was established in January 2001. Immunophenotyping of the peripheral blood lymphocytes showed a relative increase in the subpopulation of gamma/delta T-cell receptor (TCR) positive (gamma/delta TCR(+)) and (CD4, CD8) negative T lymphocytes, and PCR suggested a monoclonal pattern of TCR gamma chain gene rearrangement. Cytogenetic examination of his bone marrow cells showed a normal male karyotype but RT-PCR analysis revealed a BCR-ABL (p210) fusion transcript. The inhibition of CFU-Mk growth mediated by the patient's T lymphocytes indicated that the pathogenic mechanism for AATP could be an immunological attack on megakaryocyte progenitors where the gamma/delta TCR-positive T lymphocytes are directly involved. The case emphasizes the complex association of T-lymphocyte monoclonal proliferation and AATP.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Marrow Cells / pathology
  • Clone Cells
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / genetics*
  • Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Male
  • Megakaryocytes / immunology
  • Megakaryocytes / pathology*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / analysis*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphocytes / chemistry
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Thrombocytopenia / genetics*
  • Thrombocytopenia / immunology
  • Thrombocytopenia / pathology*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl