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Erythrocytosis following allogeneic hemopoietic SCT in three cases of aplastic anemia

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 46, pages 1163–1165 (2011)Cite this article

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Post transplant erythrocytosis (PTE) is a known complication after renal transplantation, seen in 10–15% of cases.1 Its occurrence has not been reported following allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), though a case of polycythemia vera following ASCT has recently been mentioned.2 We report erythrocytosis in three cases of acquired severe aplastic anemia following allogeneic HSCT.

The first patient was a 24-year-old man who underwent peripheral blood HSCT from an HLA-matched brother on 19 July 2001 after conditioning with antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) 15 mg/kg per day × 3 plus CY 50 mg/kg per day × 4. GVHD prophylaxis was with CYA plus prednisolone. Except for mild CYA-induced reversible renal impairment, his post transplant course was uneventful. Immunosuppressives were stopped 15 months post transplant. In January 2005, 42 months post transplant, he developed malaise, headache and plethora. Physical examination was normal. His Hb value was 17.5 g per 100 mL, Hct level was 52%, WBC and plt counts were normal. His chest X-ray, ECG, echocardiogram, renal and liver ultrasound scans, i.v. urography, O2 saturation and arterial blood gases were normal. All the causes of secondary polycythemia were ruled out. Serum EPO levels were 4.9 mIU/mL (normal 3.3–16.6). Red cell mass was 38.98 mL/kg (normal 30–35). PCR result for JAK-2 mutation was negative. STR analysis showed complete donor chimerism and donors blood counts were normal.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Professor JCW Marsh, Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College Hospital, London for reviewing the paper.

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  1. Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    P Ahmed, Q U N Chaudhry, T M Satti, S Raza & S K Mahmood

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  1. P Ahmed
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  2. Q U N Chaudhry
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  3. T M Satti
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  4. S Raza
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  5. S K Mahmood
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Correspondence to P Ahmed.

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Ahmed, P., Chaudhry, Q., Satti, T. et al. Erythrocytosis following allogeneic hemopoietic SCT in three cases of aplastic anemia. Bone Marrow Transplant 46, 1163–1165 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2010.265

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