title: An uncommon cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in an 84-year-old female.
abstract: The estimated annual incidence for drug-induced thrombocytopenia is 10 per million. Although fatal consequences are uncommon, life-threatening hemorrhage can occur due to spontaneous bleeding. We report a case of 84-year-old Caucasian female who presented to the emergency department with multiple episodes of bloody bowel movements. One week prior to this admission, she was started on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for the treatment of skin abscess. On admission laboratory results showed platelet count of 4 × 10(3)/mm(3) and hemoglobin of 10.2 g/dL. Because of unstable vital signs, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit where she received multiple units of platelet and blood transfusion. Drug-induced thrombocytopenia due to TMP/SMX was suspected. Intravenous methylprednisolone was started as well as immune globulin with good clinical response.
authors.affiliation: Saint Joseph Hospital/University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Internal Medicine, 2900 N. Lake Shore, Chicago, IL 60657, USA.
authors.forename: Suartcha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prueksaritanond
authors.forename: Aram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbaryan
authors.forename: Alaa M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Aibek E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Mirrakhimov