Acquired Glanzmann's thrombasthenia associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2005 Oct;27(10):554-7. doi: 10.1097/01.mph.0000183864.56533.d2.

Abstract

Acquired Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is an uncommon event in association with leukemia. The authors describe a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who presented with severe hemorrhagic syndrome, without disseminated intravascular coagulation. The patient's course was complicated by the occurrence of severe hemorrhagic episodes, with a thrombasthenia-like profile, requiring multiple transfusions with packed red cells, platelets, and fresh-frozen plasma. Biological explorations detected anti-GPIIb/IIIa complex antibodies. The patient finally died with refractory disease and persistent bleeding. This case is the first reported of autoantibodies to GPIIb/IIIa in ALL. Such paraneoplastic syndrome is potentially responsible for severe life-threatening hemorrhage.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Blood Component Transfusion
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / immunology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Thrombasthenia / etiology*
  • Thrombasthenia / immunology
  • Thrombasthenia / therapy
  • Treatment Failure

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex