Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and Hodgkin's disease: report of two cases and a review of the literature.

Twenty-five patients from the literature and two additional patients with Hodgkin's disease and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are reviewed. In 22 patients the ITP occurred after the Hodgkin's disease was treated. In nine of these patients, the Hodgkin's disease. In one patient, ITP preceded Hodgkin's disease by one year. Seven of 26 patients achieved complete remission of the ITP with prednisone. In each of these patients the Hodgkin's disease was in complete remission, and each had a previous splenectomy. Seven of 14 patients achieved complete remission of the ITP after splenectomy. Four of these patients had active Hodgkin's disease. Of the 27 patients, 14 were in remission of the Hodgkin's disease at the time of ITP. To date, relapse of the Hodgkin's disease had occurred in only one patient. Lymphadenopathy in five of these patients proved to be benign hyperplasia on biopsy. In addition to the association with Hodgkin's disease, review of ITP cases at Upstate Medical Center and a recent report in the literature indicate that there may be a general association between ITP and malignancy.