Refractory Thrombocytopenia in TP53-Aberrant Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Multimechanistic Case with Response to Idelalisib and Romiplostim.

Background/

Objectives

Thrombocytopenia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous and multifactorial complication that often reflects the combined effects of immune dysregulation, impaired megakaryopoiesis, bone marrow microenvironmental disruption, and disease-related factors. In patients with high-risk molecular features, particularly TP53 abnormalities, management becomes increasingly challenging and frequently refractory to conventional therapies.

Methods

We report a 57-year-old male with long-standing CLL characterized by a highly aggressive and treatment-refractory course. The patient developed persistent severe thrombocytopenia despite multiple lines of therapy, including corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab, splenectomy, and thrombopoietin receptor agonists. Subsequent treatments with ibrutinib and a venetoclax-based regimen failed to improve platelet counts and were discontinued due to worsening cytopenia. Bone marrow evaluation, molecular/cytogenetic analyses, and subsequent treatment responses were thoroughly evaluated.

Results

Bone marrow evaluation revealed hypercellularity with significant CLL infiltration, dysplastic megakaryopoiesis, and reticulin fibrosis, indicating impaired platelet production in addition to immune-mediated destruction. Molecular and cytogenetic analyses demonstrated high-risk disease with deletion of 17p and dual TP53 mutations (p.His179Tyr and p.Arg282Trp), consistent with biallelic TP53 disruption. Romiplostim monotherapy did not result in a meaningful hematologic response. However, following the addition of idelalisib, a rapid and sustained increase in platelet counts was observed, allowing tapering of romiplostim and stabilization of hematologic parameters.

Conclusions

This case highlights the complex and dynamic pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in CLL, where immune-mediated destruction and defective thrombopoiesis coexist within a profoundly altered marrow microenvironment. TP53 disruption appears to play a central role not only in driving treatment resistance but also in promoting immune dysregulation and disease aggressiveness. Although a delayed therapeutic effect of romiplostim cannot be entirely excluded, the distinct temporal association following idelalisib initiation suggests a potential collaborative interaction or disease-directed clearance that may facilitate platelet recovery in this setting. Refractory thrombocytopenia in CLL should be approached as a manifestation of complex disease biology rather than an isolated complication. This single observation indicates that in TP53 aberrant cases with multi-mechanism thrombocytopenia, disease-directed targeted therapy may contribute significantly to platelet recovery.