Peritoneal hemorrhage due to a ruptured ovarian cyst in ITP

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2007 Feb;29(2):117-20. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e3180314206.

Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura in children rarely causes severe bleeding. The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage is approximately 0.2% to 1.0%, and severe bleeding (defined as persistent epistaxis, melena, menorrhagia, gastrointestinal bleeding, etc, requiring hospitalization or transfusion) occurs in only 5% of patients. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) tends to behave similarly to non-EBV - associated ITP with no increase in hemorrhagic complications and only a small increase in time to remission. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura diagnosed in adolescence is more likely to be chronic then in childhood ITP, but has a higher rate of spontaneous resolution than in adults. However, females in this age group are in their early childbearing years and present a unique set of possible hemorrhagic complications not seen in younger patients. We present the case of an 18-year-old female with EBV-associated ITP, who developed a severe intra-abdominal bleed secondary to a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / complications
  • Erythrocyte Transfusion / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Hemorrhage / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Ovarian Cysts / complications*
  • Ovarian Cysts / pathology*
  • Peritoneum / pathology
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / complications*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / etiology
  • Rupture, Spontaneous / complications
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous