A case of unusual etiology for thrombocytopenia in a young male

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) has a lifetime prevalence in men of 0.2%-0.3%. AN has been implicated in hematologic abnormalities including anemia, leukopenia, and less frequently thrombocytopenia. Only about 5% of patients with AN related cytopenias will have thrombocytopenia.

Herein we discuss a patient with AN who initially presented with fatigue and thrombocytopenia (platelet count nadir of 49,000/µL). His initial workup was negative; however a bone marrow biopsy revealed profound hypocellularity of ten percent. AN related marrow suppression can occur via gelatinous bone marrow transformation as was the situation with our patient. His peripheral cell counts improved with improvement in his nutritional status. This is one of the few case reports of male anorexia leading to profound hypocellularity of the bone marrow.