Macrothrombocytopenia with deafness, nephritis, cataract, short small intestine, and double ureter

A 23 year old female, born in 1957, was diagnosed as having idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura at the age of 3 and treated with prednisolone during her childhood with no response. On her regular check-up in 1978, facial edema and proteinuria suggested renal disease. The family history was negative for bleeding diathesis or renal disease. Close examination revealed the following: WBC 4,200/microliters without leukocyte inclusions, RBC 3.42 x 10(6)/microliters, Hb 11.7 g/dl. PT 10.6 sec, APTT 28.9 sec. Platelet count 4,500/microliters by HEMATRAK 360, and 40 x 10(3)/microliters measured by microscopic method. Giant platelets were noted on peripheral blood smear with an average diameter of 6.1 microns. Bleeding time (Duke) was 12.0 min. Number of megakaryocytes was increased although platelet production was remarkably decreased. Results of platelet aggregation and retention tests were normal. Platelet life span (T1/2) was 2.3 days. Sensory neural hearing loss, congenital cataract, double ureter and short small intestine were also found. Chromosome analysis showed 46XX. She underwent splenectomy resulting in increase of the platelet count to 226 x 10(3)/microliters. The increased platelet count, however, gradually decreased to the initial count in 2 years although the bleeding tendency was improved. In 1987, renal function deteriorated, causing intractable hypertension. The serum creatinine was 4.8 mg/dl. The following year she developed cerebral bleeding and died 4 days after the episode. The serum creatinine was 8.6 mg/dl.