THE ASSOCIATION of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) with thymoma1 is well known. The disease also may be associated with a variety of other conditions, including paraproteinemia.1-4 However, its association with lymphomas occurs infrequently. We have found only one report of PRCA in the course of histiocytic lymphoma.5
The rarity of this association is intriguing because autoimmunity is now believed to play a part in the pathogenesis of PRCA, and the incidence of autoimmune phenomena in the course of lymphoproliferative disorders has been documented.6
We describe a case of PRCA that occurred a few months after the diagnosis of poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma.
Report of a Case
A 27-year-old previously healthy woman complained of chest pain and progressive dyspnea. One month before admission she noted bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy, fever, and weight loss. Examination showed splenomegaly, ascites, and right pleural effusion confirmed by roentgenogram. Thoracentesis yielded 950