title: Persistent lymphocytosis of natural killer cells in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP) patients after splenectomy.
abstract: We report three patients with primary autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP) who developed an absolute lymphocytosis (lymphocyte count > 5 x 10(9)/l) after splenectomy and with a lymphocyte count between 5.4 and 8.9 x 10(9)/l. An immunophenotype study showed that the peripheral blood lymphocytosis was a persistent NK cell expansion (CD2+, CD56+, CD3-), and was characterized by a typical large granular lymphocytes (LGL) morphology. Two of these three ATP patients were refractory to splenectomy.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Universitario Principe de Asturias, Universidad de Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Suarez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arribalzaga
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Perez-Machado
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez-Rubio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Mon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000150:complications*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*