Corticosteroid-Resistant Secondary Immune Thrombocytopenia in Smoldering Multiple Myeloma Successfully Treated With Eltrombopag: A Case Report

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an uncommon yet clinically significant cause of thrombocytopenia in multiple myeloma (MM). We report a case of an 80-year-old female with severe thrombocytopenia identified during routine follow-up after breast cancer surgery, leading to the simultaneous diagnosis of Smoldering multiple myeloma (sMM) and secondary ITP. Laboratory findings, including an elevated immature platelet fraction, increased platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (IgG), and preserved megakaryopoiesis, supported a diagnosis of immune-mediated platelet destruction. The patient demonstrated only a transient response to corticosteroids but achieved sustained remission with eltrombopag (EPAG), while maintaining stable M-protein levels and showing no myeloma-defining events (MDEs). This report highlights the importance of considering secondary ITP in the evaluation of patients with MM.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-03-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.104525
Primary Topic
Platelet Disorders and Treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Corticosteroid-Resistant Secondary Immune Thrombocytopenia in Smoldering Multiple Myeloma Successfully Treated With Eltrombopag: A Case Report

Ryutaro Tominaga, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
Cureus
Platelet Disorders and Treatments
article

Corticosteroid-Resistant Secondary Immune Thrombocytopenia in Smoldering Multiple Myeloma Successfully Treated With Eltrombopag: A Case Report

Ryutaro Tominaga, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
article en

Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an uncommon yet clinically significant cause of thrombocytopenia in multiple myeloma (MM). We report a case of an 80-year-old female with severe thrombocytopenia identified during routine follow-up after breast cancer surgery, leading to the simultaneous diagnosis of Smoldering multiple myeloma (sMM) and secondary ITP. Laboratory findings, including an elevated immature platelet fraction, increased platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (IgG), and preserved megakaryopoiesis, supported a diagnosis of immune-mediated platelet destruction. The patient demonstrated only a transient response to corticosteroids but achieved sustained remission with eltrombopag (EPAG), while maintaining stable M-protein levels and showing no myeloma-defining events (MDEs). This report highlights the importance of considering secondary ITP in the evaluation of patients with MM.

Cureus
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 38%
Platelet Disorders and Treatments
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