Fatal Hemorrhagic Gastrointestinal Angioectasia after Bone Marrow Transplantation for Dyskeratosis Congenita

Intern Med. 2016;55(23):3441-3444. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.55.7462. Epub 2016 Dec 1.

Abstract

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare inherited disease in which the telomere complex cannot be maintained. Shortened telomeres can cause a number of clinical conditions. We herein report a case of unrelated bone marrow transplantation due to aplastic anemia associated with DC. The patient died of uncontrollable refractory intestinal bleeding. Three cases of DC with life-threatening hemorrhaging after transplantation have been reported; however, the bleeding origin could not be determined. Our case is the only patient in which a gastrointestinal bleeding point, jejunal multiple angioectasia, was determined.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Aplastic / etiology
  • Anemia, Aplastic / therapy*
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Dilatation, Pathologic / etiology*
  • Dyskeratosis Congenita / complications
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Young Adult