Thrombocytopenia following acute acetaminophen overdose.
An unusual case of severe thrombocytopenia following acetaminophen overdose is presented along with a retrospective review of 174 patients with hospital admissions for acute acetaminophen toxicity. Thrombocytopenia occurred in 3.4% of these patients and strongly correlated with the degree of hepatotoxicity (as measured by peak AST values) but did not correlate with serum acetaminophen levels. The mechanism appears to be a transient direct toxic effect on platelets or megakaryocytes, and the finding of thrombocytopenia early in the course of acetaminophen overdose may identify a subset of patients at risk for significant hepatotoxicity.
Fischereder
M
M
Department of Medicine, St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center, St. Paul, MN 55101.
Jaffe
J P
JP
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000506:poisoning*; D000328:Adult; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000187:drug effects; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D062787:Drug Overdose; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000082:Acetaminophen; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases