Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma complicated with autoimmune thrombocytopenia

Abstract

A patient was diagnosed with autoimmune thrombocytopenia and concurrent diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Both autoimmune thrombocytopenia and DLBCL were successfully treated using chemotherapy, while steroid therapy, rituximab monotherapy, and high-dose parenteral glucocorticoid therapy combined with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin failed to improve thrombocytopenia. A greater understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment options can only be definitively clarified by analyses of settings such as the present case, as autoimmune thrombocytopenia is uncommon in patients with malignant lymphoma and the etiology and optimal treatment remain unclear.