title: Thrombocytopenia possibly caused by structurally related third-generation cephalosporins.
abstract: Thrombocytopenia is defined as a decrease in the platelet count to less than 100 x 10(9)/L and it is the most commonly reported drug-induced blood dyscrasia. Heparin is the most commonly reported cause of drug-induced thrombocytopenia with a reported incidence between one and ten percent. Thrombocytopenia induced by cephalosporins has been reported but is relatively rare. This report does not completely document that two third-generation cephalosporins caused platelet counts to fall less than 100 x 10(9)/L in the patient described but there was no other explanation available. Platelet counts began to fall with the institution of third-generation cephalosporins and began to rise when these agents were stopped. In order to document that thrombocytopenia was induced by the third-generation cephalosporins a rechallenge would have been necessary; this was not considered to be safe in this patient. A review of the literature is presented describing similar cases of cephalosporin-induced thrombocytopenia.
authors.affiliation: Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92120.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brandon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D002442:Ceftazidime