Anaemia, thrombocytopenia and skin lesions

Abstract

A 73-year-old man affected by hyperuricemia, dyslipidaemia and hypothyroidism presented to the emergency room with a 3-month history of fever, exertional dyspnea, progressive asthenia, and painless not itchy skin lesions. Physical exam showed purplish papules and plaques affecting any area of his body, and a slight bilateral oedema of his legs. Laboratory studies revealed a severe macrocytic anaemia (haemoglobin 4.8 g/dL, mean cell volume 119 fL) and thrombocytopenia (34,000/mm3) with hyperferritinemia (1894 ng/mL, normal value <400) and increased serum B12 (1412 pg/mL, normal value 197-771), associated with ESR 71 mm/h (normal value 1-15), CRP 139 mg/L (normal value <6), and procalcitonin 1.05 ng/mL (normal value <0.5).