title: Immediate transient thrombocytopenia at the time of alemtuzumab infusion in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody approved for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Although Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) has been reported as a secondary autoimmune phenomenon following alemtuzumab infusion, immediate thrombocytopenia during the infusion has not been reported.
  
  
  
  We report transient, reversible, self-limiting acute-onset thrombocytopenia during the first course with alemtuzumab.
  
  
  
  In total, 3 of 22 paitents developed mild self-limited bruising associated with a drop in platelet count from their baseline during the intial 5-day course of alemtuzumab. Upon chart review, all 22 patients who received alemtuzumab developed an immediate mostly asymptomatic drop in platelet count which returned to normal within 2 months post-infusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaunzner
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Stacyann
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vartanian
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jai S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Perumal
mesh_terms: D000074323:Alemtuzumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000074323:Alemtuzumab
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; alemtuzumab; thrombocytopenia