Multiple myeloma developing during long-term clinical course of refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report and review of literature.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired, immune-mediated disease that is characterized by increased destruction of platelets by autoantibodies. Although the onset of the disease and clinical course are highly variable, the disease typically has a benign course. ITP associated with multiple myeloma (MM) has been rarely reported; it is even rarer for MM to develop during a long-term ITP (almost 20 years). Here, we first report on a case with a 20-year long clinical course of refractory ITP followed by newly diagnosed MM.