Bridging Immune Realms: A Striking Case Report on Autoimmune Thyroiditis Co-existing with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Abstract

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), an autoimmune disease, is characterised by isolated thrombocytopenia, with or without bleeding. Thyroid autoimmune illness can coexist with ITP. The specific clinical characteristics are still unknown. The length of ITP or the patients’ response to treatment is not related to their thyroid condition. In patients with ITP, thyroid impairment is more common. In the present case report, a 60-year-old female patient, a known case of asthma, presented to the hospital with complaints of swelling in the neck along with transient episodes of breathlessness for 3-4 years. On local examination, a butterfly-shaped mass was seen in the neck, which moved upwards on deglutination but did not move on protrusion of the tongue. Pemberton’s sign was also positive. On palpation, the thyroid measured around 8×6 cm in size, thyroid lobes were bosselated, consistency was firm, and no bruit was heard on auscultation. Based on routine laboratory findings, she was found to have refractory thrombocytopenia with a normal thyroid profile. Further investigations revealed that the patient had positive antithyroid stimulating hormone antibodies, and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) showed colloid nodular goitre with haemorrhagic cystic changes. A bone marrow biopsy was performed in view of refractory thrombocytopenia, which was suggestive of ITP. The patient was advised to take tablet eltrombopag, after which the platelet counts improved drastically. Subsequently, the patient was advised to undergo thyroidectomy, but this could not be done due to haemodynamic instability.