Concurrent presentation of erythrocytic and megakaryocytic aplasia

A case of a patient presenting with idiopathic concurrent erythrocytic and megakaryocytic aplasia is reported. The patient's response to immunosuppressive therapy and her bone marrow pathology clearly suggest an immune mechanism. Based on the lack of suppression of erythroid colony growth, several mechanisms are postulated. Well-established molecular and genetic evidence, along with clinical observations, suggests that a relationship exists between the erythrocytic and megakaryocytic cell lines. This may be related to a common bipotential stem cell or common cell surface markers. This case provides strong clinical evidence to support this relationship.