Original Paper

Hematological Abnormalities in Scleroderma
A Study of 180 Cases
Rida A. Frayha, Lowerence E. Shulman, Mary B. Stevens

Connective Tissue Division, Department of Internal Medicine, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Department of Rheumatology, Good Samaritan Hospital and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md., and Department of Medicine, American University Medical Center, Beirut

Address of Corresponding Author

Acta haemat. 1980;64:25-30 (DOI: 10.1159/000207206)

  Key Words

• Hematological abnormalities
• Scleroderma

  Abstract

Hematological abnormalities in scleroderma indicate a specific complication of the disease itself, or an associated illness. Among 180 patients with scleroderma, anemia was detected in 25% and was attributed to chronic inflammatory disease (usually an overlap syndrome), bleeding mucosal telangiectases as part of the CREST syndrome, intestinal malabsorption, and microangiopathic hemolysis. Leukocytosis, present in 14%, was correlated with active myopathy and/or advanced visceral involvement while leukopenia was suggestive of a crossover with systemic lupus erythematosus. Thrombocytopenia was often a manifestation of microangiopathy, and thrombocytosis was associated with an arteritis or a tumor syndrome.

Copyright © 1980 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. R. A. Frayha, Department of Medicine, American University Medical Center, Beirut (Lebanon)

  Article Information

Received: March 13, 1980
Accepted: April 18, 1980
Published online: February 27, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 6