Flow cytometry in the diagnosis of drug-induced thrombocytopenia: two illustrative cases

Am J Hematol. 2008 Apr;83(4):326-9. doi: 10.1002/ajh.21111.

Abstract

Drug-induced thrombocytopenia is a challenging diagnosis in the clinical practice because of the many drugs or alternative causes that may be implicated. Exact identification of such drug(s) is required to guide future management and avoid re-exposure. We describe two cases of isolated thrombocytopenia in which cytometric analysis, a readily available technique, allowed the identification of the causative drug in the context of complex therapies (rifampicin and abciximab causing late onset thrombocytopenia).

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abciximab
  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / immunology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects*
  • Anticoagulants / immunology
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Ciprofloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / adverse effects*
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / therapeutic use
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy
  • Osteomyelitis / drug therapy
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / blood
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / chemically induced
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / diagnosis*
  • Rifampin / adverse effects*
  • Rifampin / immunology
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Anticoagulants
  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Rifampin
  • Abciximab