[Immune thrombocytopenia in rectal cancer. Case report].

We report on a 72 year-old female patient, who presented with hemorrhagic purpura und rectal bleeding. A rectal carcinoma with local extension was confirmed by endoscopy. In addition the patient showed a considerable immune thrombocytopenia. Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in an increase in thrombocytes, but the steroids were discontinued because of diabetogenic side effects. Azathioprine had a transient effect on thrombocytopenia. The thrombocytes increased appreciably under intravenous application of gammaglobulin. The association between intestinal neoplasms and immune thrombocytopenia may be more frequent than assumed.