mercaptopurine and Thrombocythemia--Essential

We report a case of essential thrombocythemia (ET) that climaxed in acute myeloid leukemia after developing into refractory anemia. The male patient had ET that was stable for 8 years on carboquone therapy. However, at the age of 72 years he developed an acute terminal illness that was characterized by severe pancytopenia, circulating myeloblasts, extensive bone marrow infiltration by myeloblasts, and an abnormal karyotype [46, XY, t(8q-; 20q+)]. He subsequently died of severe bilateral pneumonia and heart failure. This case suggests that ET may be similar to polycythemia vera; progression to leukemia is unusual except after chemotherapy. Therefore, treatment of patients with asymptomatic ET may not be advisable.

Topics: Aged; Anemia, Refractory; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carbazilquinone; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Humans; Karyotyping; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Mercaptopurine; Prednisolone; Thrombocythemia, Essential

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Bone Marrow Diseases; Erythrocytes; Humans; Leukemia; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Megakaryocytes; Mercaptopurine; Middle Aged; Thiotepa; Thrombocythemia, Essential

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Mercaptopurine; Middle Aged; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Thrombocythemia, Essential

Topics: Acute Disease; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Antineoplastic Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Female; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Middle Aged; Thrombocythemia, Essential; Vincristine

Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood Cell Count; Blood Coagulation Disorders; Blood Coagulation Tests; Blood Platelet Disorders; Blood Platelets; Blood Transfusion; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Leukemia; Male; Mercaptopurine; Middle Aged; Thrombocythemia, Essential