Resolution of paraneoplastic immune thrombocytopenia following everolimus treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Autoimmune thrombocytopenia is an uncommon but reported paraneoplastic manifestation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Treatment usually involves management of the underlying malignancy; however, steroids have shown a benefit in published case reports. Here, we describe a patient with profound thrombocytopenia secondary to metastatic RCC. It was refractory to steroid and intravenous immunoglobulin, but the platelet count improved markedly following initiation of everolimus. The possible explanation includes immunomodulation, tumour lysis or a combination of both effects. This is the first reported case of everolimus used in paraneoplastic thrombocytopenia from RCC. More studies are needed for further investigation of its potential use in secondary immune thrombocytopenia from RCC and perhaps other malignancies.