Thrombocytopenia responsive to warfarin in a patient with systemic sclerosis--systemic lupus erythematosus overlap.
We report a patient with overlapping systemic sclerosis-systemic lupus erythematosus who developed refractory thrombocytopenia and recurrent thromboses. Coagulation and platelet labeling studies revealed that platelets were being consumed by the thrombus formation, and anticoagulation with warfarin dramatically increased the platelet count. This case report suggests that platelet consumption due to thrombus formation is one of the causes of thrombocytopenia in patients with rheumatic disease.
Kuwana
M
M
Department of Medicine and Transfusion Center, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Kaburaki
J
J
Hirakata
M
M
Tojo
T
T
Handa
M
M
Ikeda
Y
Y
D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012008:Recurrence; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014859:Warfarin