Autoimmune thrombocytopenia and peripheral neuropathy heralding Hodgkin's disease

A patient with an autoimmune thrombocytopenic syndrome was treated unsuccessfully with splenectomy. Treatment with corticosteroids and 6-mercaptopurine was partially successful, but the patient developed peripheral neuropathy and over signs of Hodgkin's disease. The latter reponded completely to radiation therapy, but the thrombocytopenia was not reversed until combination chemotherapy was given. The association of thrombocytopenia with Hodgkin's disease is reviewed.