"PLATELET" THROMBOSIS IN LEUKEMIA

Abstract

Disseminated "platelet" thrombi were demonstrated at necropsy in 2 cases of acute leukemia and 1 of chronic myelogenous leukemia with an acute terminal exacerbation. There was no common etiologic denominator in the 3 cases, except for the acute phase of the disease. Although the lesions were far fewer and less extensive than in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, the similarity in symptoms, signs and necropsy findings is pointed out. In contradistinction to the usual descriptions of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, the number of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow in the authors'' 3 cases was decreased. Roentgen irradiation was given to 1 patient, folic-acid antagonists and urethan were given to another, while the 3d patient had received only folic-acid antagonists. The presence of capillary thrombosis was considered to be unrelated to the therapy given. Descriptions of the lesions in the literature vary greatly, as do suggestions as to causation and pathogenesis. It is suggested that "platelet" thrombosis with thrombocytopenia, when it occurs simultaneously with other diseases, frequently is a complicating syndrome rather than a disease entity.