Primary immune thrombocytopenia accompanied by pituitary apoplexy.

Abstract

An 83-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a severe headache and purpura. She had previously been diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) and achieved complete remission with steroid therapy. Steroid therapy had been completed one week prior to the current admission. The recurrence of severe thrombocytopenia (<1.0×10(4) platelets/μl) was detected and a CT scan revealed pituitary hemorrhage without pituitary adenoma. She received steroid therapy combined with intravenous immunoglobulin, which resulted in the amelioration of ITP and improvements in the pituitary hemorrhage. Intracranial hemorrhage, which is the most serious bleeding manifestation in ITP, is relatively uncommon. Pituitary apoplexy in ITP is extremely rare.