[Severe thrombocytopenia with probable autoimmune mechanism associated with interferon therapy in a patient with chronic hepatitis C]. / Trombocitopenia grave de probable mecanismo autoinmune, en relación con el tratamiento con interferón en un paciente con hepatitis crónica por el virus C.

We describe the case of a 20-year-old man who developed severe thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic complications 5 months after beginning pegylated interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Interferon therapy was stopped and platelets were transfused, but the platelet count did not increase until treatment with immunoglobulins and intravenous corticosteroids was started. Therefore, we believe this would suggest a possible autoimmune mechanism for the development of thrombocytopenia with interferon therapy. Mild reduction in platelets count is a common adverse effect of this drug. Nevertheless, severe decreases and secondary serious hemorrhagic complications have been infrequently described in the literature.

[Cyclosporin A in the treatment of acquired erythroblastopenia in the course of B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia]. / Ciclosporina-A en el tratamiento de una eritroblastopenia adquirida en el curso de una leucemia linfática crónica de células B.

Acquired erythroblastopenia, or pure red cell aplasia, may appear as a complication of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. This was the case in a 58 year-old man, diagnosed as having B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia considered as stage C (III). He was treated initially with chlorambucil; two months after diagnosis the patient showed erythroblastopenia, being treated with chlorambucil-prednisone, cyclophosphamide-prednisone, prednisone alone, and intravenous immunoglobulins. No satisfactory response was achieved with any of these drugs. During a period of 28 weeks the patient received 41 units of packed red cells. Cyclosporin-A, at a 9 mg/Kg daily doses, was tested, a dramatic response being observed: after four weeks of such therapy the patient's haemoglobin reached 14.5 g/dL, and he needed no further transfusion since the beginning of this treatment.