Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in Hodgkin's disease: a report of eight cases.

Eight patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in association with Hodgkin's disease (HD) are reported from the British National Lymphoma Investigation (BNLI) registry. The patients were heterogeneous for initial stage of HD, histology and treatment received. The median time from diagnosis of HD to diagnosis of ITP was 23 months (range 3-57). Six of eight were in complete remission at diagnosis of ITP, one was in relapse, and one was undergoing first line chemotherapy. Of those patients developing ITP in remission, only one subsequently relapsed. The ITP responded in six of the eight patients to a single course of oral prednisolone. Thus the occurrence of ITP in patients with HD appears to be independent of the activity of the lymphoma, and responds to therapy as for primary ITP. The development of ITP in remission has no prognostic significance.