title: Antiplatelet drug induced isolated profound thrombocytopenia in interventional cardiology: a review based on individual case reports.
abstract: A combination antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel, aspirin, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors and heparins is routinely used as adjunct therapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). As all substances inhibit platelet function, bleeding and thrombocytopenia may occur. We report on three patients who developed isolated profound thrombocytopenia (platelet count of < 20,000/mm(3)) within 24 h after initiation of combination antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy during a 1 year observation period in 443 consecutive patients undergoing PCI and stent implantation. The data from our cardiology unit revealed an incidence of an isolated profound thrombocytopenia in 0.7% of all patients on combination antithrombotic therapy and in 1.5% of patients with GPIIb/IIIa-blockers. In all three cases with isolated profound thrombocytopenia GPIIb/IIIa-blockers were found to be the causative agents. Negative results of HIT-assays excluded heparin induced thrombocytopenia type II. Despite the extremely low platelet count no severe bleeding was observed and in all cases platelet counts normalized within 3-4 days without specific interventions except discontinuation of the responsible agent. These findings are discussed in conjunct with an overview of the recent literature.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Medical Department, Cardiology and Emergency Medicine, Wilhelminenhospital, Montleartstrasse 37, 1160, Vienna, Austria. thomas.hoechtl@wienkav.at
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Höchtl
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pachinger
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geppert
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojta
authors.forename: Job
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harenberg
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010976:Platelet Count; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors