Autoimmune thrombocytopenia in a patient with small cell lung cancer developing after chemotherapy and resolving following autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

A 46-year-old white male with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) limited to the thorax developed autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP), following a cy clophosphamide, paclitaxel and G-CSF-containing regimen for peripheral bloo d stem cell (PBSC) mobilization. AITP associated with small or non-small ce ll lung cancer has been reported. We considered that the AITP in this case may be a part of paraneoplastic syndrome, which is frequently seen in patie nts with SCLC. The patient received HDC and autologous PBSC transplantation (APBSCT) for SCLC and the AITP resolved following transplantation, thus su pporting the concept of HDC + APBSCT for the treatment of autoimmune diseas es.