Pantoprazole-induced thrombocytopenia.
OBJECTIVE
To report 2 cases of thrombocytopenia associated with pantoprazole treatment and discuss existing reports on this drug-induced adverse event.


METHODS
This paper describes the course of thrombocytopenia associated with pantoprazole 40 mg in 2 hospitalized patients. In both cases, thrombocytopenia appeared after the initiation of pantoprazole and rapidly improved after discontinuation of pantoprazole, although complete resolution of thrombocytopenia occurred in only one patient prior to discharge from the hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanism of drug-induced thrombocytopenia is often poorly understood, and proton-pump inhibitors are generally not strongly suspected as a cause of thrombocytopenia. However, an objective causality assessment using the Naranjo probability scale revealed a probable relationship between thrombocytopenia and pantoprazole in both of the cases. It is unknown whether this is a class effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Although drug-induced thrombocytopenia with pantoprazole appears to be rare, it represents a potentially severe adverse effect. This supports the judicious prescribing of pantoprazole and possibly other proton-pump inhibitors.
Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, USA.
Tracy D
TD
Watson
Jennifer E
JE
Stark
Kimi S
KS
Vesta
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000328:Adult; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D010976:Platelet Count; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D013454:Sulfoxides; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D009853:Omeprazole