Letter to the Editor

A Very Rare Cause of Aplastic Anemia: Graves Disease

Authors: Yusuf Aydn, MD, Dilek Berker, MD, Ihsan Ustün, MD, Özlem Balcik, MD, Derya Nurhan Ball, MD, Tuncay Delibasi, MD, Irfan Peksoy, MD, Serdar Guler, MD

Abstract

To the Editor:


Pancytopenia, or aplastic anemia (AA), is an often idiopathic autoimmune disorder affecting the hematopoietic cells. Severe pancytopenia is also a rare but serious complication of thyrotoxicosis. Nevertheless, most of the cases of pancytopenia and AA in Graves disease (GD) are seen as a complication of antithyroid drugs (thioamides).1 AA is extremely rare at the diagnosis of GD. Here, we describe a patient with GD who presented with symptoms of AA.

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1. Lima CS, Zantut Wittmann DE, Castro V, et al. Pancytopenia in untreated patients with Graves’ disease. Thyroid 2006;16:403–409.
 
2. Biswas N, Ahn YH, Goldman JM, et al. Aplastic anemia associated with antiyhroid drugs. Am J Med Sci 1991;301:190–194.
 
3. Banyopadhyay U, Biswas K, Banerjee RK. Extrathyroidal actions of antithyroid thionamides. Toxicol Lett 2002;128:117–127.