AACE Clinical Case Reports (Jan 2021)

Myelofibrosis and Pancytopenia Associated With Primary Hyperparathyroidism

  • Remya Rajan, MD,
  • Immanuel Paul, MD,
  • Kripa Elizabeth Cherian, MD, DM,
  • Anu Korula, MD, DM,
  • Julie Hephzibah, MD,
  • Marie Therese Manipadam, MD,
  • Deepak Thomas Abraham, MS, PhD,
  • Nitin Kapoor, MD, DM,
  • Thomas Vizhalil Paul, MD, DNB

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 69 – 71

Abstract

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Objective: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has varied clinical presentations. Hematologic abnormalities secondary to PHPT have been described before. However, pancytopenia as the initial presentation has rarely been reported. We report a patient with PHPT who presented for evaluation of pancytopenia. Methods: Histopathology of the bone marrow at presentation is described. Bone biochemistry results and the hematologic profile before and after curative parathyroidectomy are presented. Results: A 48-year-old woman presented with pancytopenia (hemoglobin, 6.3 g/dL; total leucocyte count, 3000 cells/mm3; and platelet count, 60 000 cells/mm3), and her bone marrow study showed marrow fibrosis. Biochemical evaluation revealed hypercalcemia (15.5 mg/dL), hypophosphatemia (2.2 mg/dL), and elevated total alkaline phosphatase (4132 U/L). Bone mineral density assessment by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan revealed osteoporosis at all 3 sites, which was more severe in the distal one third of the forearm. Further investigations confirmed the diagnosis of PHPT (serum parathyroid hormone, 2082 pg/mL). Following curative parathyroidectomy, in addition to normalization of calcium, there was restoration of all 3 hematologic cell lines at 3 months. Conclusion: Pancytopenia may be a rare manifestation of PHPT. Thus, it may be prudent to evaluate the calcium profile in patients with chronic refractory anemia and pancytopenia.

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