Reactions 451 - 15 May 1993

SAntineoplastics

Polycythaemia vera in a patient with non-Hodgkin’slymphoma?: case report

A 63-year-old man developed splenomegaly 4.5 years aftercompletion of 3 courses of antineoplastic therapy withcyclophosphamide (total dose 15.1g), procarbazine (total dose12.6g), vincristine and doxorubicin (CHOP). The patient’shaemoglobin, red blood cell and platelet levels were increased,as was his red cell volume. Bone marrow aspirate and biopsyshowed marked erythroid hyperplasia and a diagnosis ofpolycythaemia vera was made. Resolution of splenomegalyand normalisation of haematological parameters occurredfollowing phlebotomies and administration of radioactivephosphorous.

Author comment: ‘We have not found any cases ofpolycythaemia vera (PV) following NHL (non-Hodgkin’slymphoma) ... Although both the time period betweenchemotherapy administration and the appearance of PV andthe high doses of alkylating agents given may suggest that thePV was a secondary and induced disorder, a coincidentalassociation cannot be excluded.’Bosch F, et al. Polycythaemia vera following non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Leukemiaand Lymphoma 8: 501-502, Dec 1992 - Spain 800191478

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Reactions 15 May 1993 No. 4510114-9954/10/0451-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved