Severe autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura during interferon-alpha therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Interferon (IFN)-alpha is a leukocyte-derived cytokine and is used to treat several hematopoietic malignancies. The most common adverse effects of IFN-alpha are flu-like symptoms and usually insignificant. However, adverse effects due to autoimmune mechanisms are often hazardous and irreversible, although their frequency is low. In the present report, we describe a 55-year-old female with chronic myelogenous leukemia who developed severe autoimmune thrombocytopenia during IFN-alpha therapy. The lowest platelet count was 6 x 10(9)/l with severe hemorrhagic tendency. The present report strongly suggests the clinical importance of autoimmune thrombocytopenia as an adverse effect of IFN-alpha.
Arimura
Kosei
K
Department of Hematology and Immunology, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
Arima
Naomichi
N
Ohtsubo
Hideo
H
Matsushita
Kakushi
K
Kukita
Toshimasa
T
Ayukawa
Tomoko
T
Kuroki
Tomoaki
T
Tei
Chuwa
C
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001549:Benzamides; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011239:Prednisolone