Thrombocytopenia in venocclusive disease after bone marrow transplantation or chemotherapy

Hepatic venocclusive disease (VOD) is a frequent complication of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Analysis of 13 cases observed during a 3- year period in our BMT center shows that VOD is associated with a constant peripheral thrombocytopenia and refractoriness to platelet transfusion. These signs appear in the very early stage of VOD, five to ten days before the classical signs, painful hepatomegaly and sudden weight gain. Analysis of platelet consumption, frequency of platelet transfusion and platelet recovery, and examination of known causes of peripheral thrombocytopenia (mainly allo- and autoimmunization, disseminated intravascular coagulation [DIC] and splenomegaly) lead to the conclusions that this association is not coincidental. The exact mechanism of platelet consumption in VOD is unknown.