AUTOREACTIVE ANTIBODIES FOLLOWING AUTOLOGOUS PERIPHERAL-BLOOD STEM-CELL TRANSPLANTATION

A 35-year-old woman diagnosed with multiple myeloma (IgG, lambda type, stage IIIA) received an autologous peripheral blood stem cell, transp lant (PBSCT). She was euthyroid without autoreactive antibodies prior to the transplant. The patient complained of malaise, weight loss and low grade fever 1 month after transplant, despite rapid haematopoietic recovery. Thyroid function tests on day 34 revealed hyperthyroidism a ssociated with anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody. Antinuclear antibody was also detected, and platelet-associated immunoglobulin was increase d. These findings disappeared spontaneously by day 62 without treatmen t. Autoimmune diseases may occur transiently after autologous PBSCT.