[Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia developed 9 years after the diagnosis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in a child].

A 5-year-old girl was diagnosed as having idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) based on symptoms of nasal bleeding and purpura. The platelet count was 35,000/microliters without anemia or leukopenia. Micromegakaryocytes were observed in normocellular bone marrow without dyserythropoiesis or dysgranulopoiesis. She had periosteal fibroma of the rib and atopic dermatitis with elevated serum IgE. Prednisolone and azathioprine were administered but with no response. The cumulative dose of azathioprine was 20 g for 28 months. Nine years after the diagnosis of ITP, she was admitted because of dyspnea and anemia. The white cell count was 26,900/microliters with 17% monocytes. The hemoglobin was 3.9 g/dl and the platelet count was 9,000/microliters. Dyserythropoiesis, dysgranulopoiesis and micromegakaryocytes were observed in hypercellular bone marrow. The chromosome analysis demonstrated 47, XX, +21. She was diagnosed as having chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL) and received bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from an HLA-identical sibling conditioned with high-dose busulfan and melphalan. After 17 months of remission, the disease recurred with an abnormal karyotype of 47, XX, +21, 7q+. Despite a second BMT conditioned with high-dose etoposide, cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation, she died of the disease. Refractory thrombocytopenia as a subgroup of myelodysplastic syndrome, rather than ITP, might have preceded the development of CMMoL, with the possibility of azathioprine-induced leukemia.