BONE-MARROW FAILURE AND MYELOFIBROSIS IN A CASE OF PVP STORAGE DISEASE

''PVP storage disease'' is a disorder occurring in patients who have r eceived high molecular weight polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), which cannot be excreted from the body, These large polymers deposit in the histio cytes and cause proliferation and infiltration of histiocytes in the r eticuloendothelial system. There was usually no significant damage to these organs except that prolonged administration might cause bone des truction, skin lesions, arthritis, and polyneuropathy, We describe a p atient who had received a large amount of PVP-containing solution for years, Severe bone marrow failure with extensive infiltration of bone marrow by foamy histiocytes occurred later. In addition, she suffered from multiple pathological fractures with spinal cord compression and arthritis of bilateral knee joints. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.