title: Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia secondary to suramin.
abstract: The authors report a case of suramin-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia occurring in a patient on a Phase II protocol for treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. On withdrawal of suramin, the acute and severe thrombocytopenia did not respond initially to plasmapheresis; subsequently, it resolved promptly and dramatically during the administration of intravenous gamma globulin, also coinciding with a decline in suramin blood levels. Results of immunologic and coagulation studies are reported and clinical implications discussed.
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Scher
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013498:Suramin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D013498:Suramin