Multiple myeloma and immune thrombocytopenia

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is frequently encountered in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. However this is only rarely reported in patients with multiple myeloma. We describe three cases who presented initially with the clinical manifestations of ITP but were subsequently found to have multiple myeloma. Platelet count increments to standard treatment modalities for ITP were observed in all three patients with transient or partial response. The importance of recognizing the immune mediated thrombocytopenia in patients with myeloma and the implications of this combination are discussed.