Acute thrombocytopenia: an unusual complication occurring after drug-eluting microspheres transcatheter hepatic chemoembolization

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2011 Feb:34 Suppl 2:S190-4. doi: 10.1007/s00270-010-9983-y. Epub 2010 Sep 18.

Abstract

Image-guided transcatheter hepatic chemoembolization (TACE) is accepted worldwide as an effective treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors, colorectal carcinomas, and uveal melanomas. Although the technique is relatively safe, it has been associated with several complications. We report the cases of two patients with colorectal liver metastases who developed acute thrombocytopenia a few hours after TACE. To our knowledge, acute thrombocytopenia occurring after TACE with drug-eluting microspheres has not yet been reported. Here we discuss the hypothetical etiopathogenetic mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / adverse effects*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Irinotecan
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Microspheres
  • Middle Aged
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / adverse effects*
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Platelet Count
  • Sigmoid Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Irinotecan
  • Camptothecin