@entity385 as first manifestation of XXXX . Report of six cases.

@entity1 @entity64 @entity1148 @entity66 @entity63 @entity1503 @entity4407 @entity385
BACKGROUND: @entity385 as a presenting sign of @entity4407 has been infrequently reported. We describe six @entity1 in whom @entity66 was the first manifestation of this @entity66 . A positive endogenous megakaryocyte and/or erythroid colony growth from blood was a diagnostic criterion of @entity4407 in @entity1 with platelets counts lower than 600 x 10(9)/L. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: These six @entity1 represented 0.54% of all @entity1 with first @entity64 , 42.8% of all @entity1503 associated with @entity64 , and 12.5% of all @entity1 with @entity4407 diagnosed from 1986 to 1992 at our institution. Eleven @entity64 (6 transient @entity63 attacks, 5 definitive @entity385 ) were registered. Mean time from @entity385 to diagnosis of @entity4407 was 4.5 months (range, 1 to 12 months). The mean platelet count was 597 x 10(9)/L (range, 414 to 760 x 10(9)/L). Four @entity1 had platelets counts lower than 600 x 10(9)/L. All @entity1 had circulating erythroid progenitors, megakaryocytic progenitors, or both. CONCLUSIONS: @entity385 as a presenting manifestation of @entity4407 is probably underrecognized. The diagnosis of @entity1148 should not be excluded on the basis of platelet counts lower than 600 x 10(9)/L. The availability of in vitro culture of hematopoietic progenitors from peripheral blood makes it possible to diagnose early and atypical cases.
