Journals / Güncel Tıbbi Araştırmaları Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 5 Sayı: 2

An Unusual Cause of Splenomegaly and Thrombocytopenia in an Adult: Niemann-Pick Disease

Erişkin bir hastada splenomegali ve trombositopeninin nadir bir nedeni: Niemann-Pick Hastalığı

Hatice Demet Kiper Ünal(IZMIR KATIP CELEBI UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-2448-7346
Tuğba Çetintepe(IZMIR KATIP CELEBI UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-5398-235X
Pages
24–28
Publication Date
2025-08-31
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

NPD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained cytopenias and splenomegaly, particularly in regions with high rates of consanguinity.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder, most commonly presenting in infancy or childhood.
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Key Findings & Data:We report a 34-year-old female referred to hematology after thrombocytopenia was detected during a preoperative evaluation.
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Conclusion & Impact:NPD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained cytopenias and splenomegaly, particularly in regions with high rates of consanguinity.
🔬Design:Olgu Sunumu
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Niemann-Pick Hastalığı · Lizozomal depo hastalığı · Sea-blue histiyosit

Abstract

Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder, most commonly presenting in infancy or childhood. Adult-onset cases are extremely uncommon and often diagnosed incidentally. We report a 34-year-old female referred to hematology after thrombocytopenia was detected during a preoperative evaluation. She had splenomegaly (spleen length: 200 mm), a history of childhood forgetfulness, and consanguineous parentage. Bone marrow aspiration revealed numerous sea-blue histiocytes and foam cells, highly suggestive of NPD. Enzymatic analysis demonstrated severely reduced acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity (0.3 nmol/mL/h; reference: 1.3–15), and genetic testing identified a homozygous c.416T>C (p.L139P) Class 2 mutation in the SMPD1 gene. The diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type A/B was confirmed. This case highlights the diagnostic value of bone marrow morphology in lysosomal storage disorders, especially when classical features such as hepatosplenomegaly and cytopenias are present in adults. NPD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained cytopenias and splenomegaly, particularly in regions with high rates of consanguinity.

Özet

Niemann-Pick hastalığı (NPH), otozomal resesif kalıtılan nadir bir lizozomal depo hastalığıdır ve genellikle bebeklik veya çocukluk döneminde bulgu verir. Erişkin başlangıçlı olgular son derece nadirdir ve çoğunlukla tesadüfen tanı alır. Bu yazıda, preoperatif değerlendirme sırasında trombositopeni saptanması üzerine hematolojiye yönlendirilen 34 yaşında bir kadın hasta sunulmaktadır. Hastada splenomegali (dalak uzunluğu: 200 mm), çocukluk dönemine ait unutkanlık öyküsü ve akraba evliliği mevcuttu. Kemik iliği aspirasyonunda, Niemann-Pick hastalığını düşündüren çok sayıda sea-blue histiyosit ve köpük hücresi saptandı. Enzimatik analizde asit sfingomiyelinaz (ASM) düzeyinin belirgin düşük olup (0.3 nmol/mL/h; referans: 1.3–15); genetik incelemede SMPD1 geninde homozigot c.416T>C (p.L139P) Class 2 mutasyonu tespit edildi. Olgu, Niemann-Pick hastalığı tip A/B olarak değerlendirildi. Bu olgu, lizozomal depo hastalıklarında kemik iliği morfolojisinin tanı koydurucu değerini, özellikle erişkin hastalarda hepatosplenomegali ve sitopeniler gibi klasik bulgular mevcut olduğunda, vurgulamaktadır. Açıklanamayan sitopeni ve splenomegali olgularında, özellikle akraba evliliğinin yaygın olduğu bölgelerde, ayırıcı tanıda Niemann-Pick hastalığı mutlaka göz önünde bulundurulmalıdır.

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Cite This Article

Ünal, H. D. K., Çetintepe, T. (2025). An Unusual Cause of Splenomegaly and Thrombocytopenia in an Adult: Niemann-Pick Disease. Güncel Tıbbi Araştırmaları Dergisi, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 2, 24–28. https://ajindex.com/articles/1645357

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