Hematological abnormalities in scleroderma. A study of 180 cases

Hematological abnormalities in scleroderma indicate a specific complication of the disease itself, or an associated illness. Among 180 patients with scleroderma, anemia was detected in 25% and was attributed to chronic inflammatory disease (usually an overlap syndrome), bleeding mucosal telangiectases as part of the CREST syndrome, intestinal malabsorption, and microangiopathic hemolysis. Leukocytosis, present in 14%, was correlated with active myopathy and/or advanced visceral involvement while leukopenia was suggestive of a crossover with systemic lupus erythematosus. Thrombocytopenia was often a manifestation of microangiopathy, and thrombocytosis was associated with an arteritis or a tumor syndrome.