title: Autoimmune mediated thrombocytopenia associated with the use of interferon-alpha in chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: We report on two patients with Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase who developed severe thrombocytopenia during treatment with interferon-alpha 2A (IFN-alpha 2A). In both cases, we detected the presence of platelet-associated antibodies (PAIg) by autoimmune flow cytometry. We postulated an immune mediated platelet destruction mechanism; corticosteroid therapy was employed and interferon therapy was withdrawn, resulting in an increase in platelet count and a reduction of PAIg. Our observation reports the detection of PAIg associated with IFN-alpha 2A therapy in CML and suggests that this immunomodulant drug could induce thrombocytopenia through a mechanism other than antiproliferation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology Seràgnoli, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zuffa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vianelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tazzari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins