Pure Red Cell Aplasia Associated with Thymolipoma: Complete Anaemia Resolution following Thymectomy

Abstract EN

Pure red cell aplasia is an uncommon cause of anaemia rarely associated with thymoma.

A combination of immunosuppressive therapy and thymectomy offers a potential cure.

Thymectomy alone rarely results in anaemia resolution.

A seventy-three-year-old male with Klinefelter syndrome presented with progressively increasing shortness of breath and anaemia.

Serological testing supported primary bone marrow pathology, and a bone marrow biopsy was performed.

A pure red cell aplasia was seen on bone marrow examination, and computed tomography of the chest demonstrated a thymoma.

Thymectomy was performed, and histology revealed a thymolipoma.

Complete anaemia resolution was achieved following thymectomy alone.

This suggests that thymomas may directly mediate immune dysregulation resulting in erythroid precursor destruction.