American Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2021, 9(3), 155-157
DOI: 10.12691/AJMCR-9-3-6
Acute Severe Thrombocytopenia Event Associated with Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole Use
Andrew V. Doodnauth1, Shruthi Sivakumar1, Yohannes Mulatu1, Eilliut Alicea1 and Samy I. McFarlane1,
1Department of Internal Medicine, State University of New York: Downstate- Health Science University, Brooklyn, New York, United States- 11203
Pub. Date: January 13, 2021
Cite this paper
Andrew V. Doodnauth, Shruthi Sivakumar, Yohannes Mulatu, Eilliut Alicea and Samy I. McFarlane. Acute Severe Thrombocytopenia Event Associated with Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole Use.
American Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2021; 9(3):155-157. doi: 10.12691/AJMCR-9-3-6
Abstract
Objective: To report a case of life-threatening thrombocytopenia associated with the use of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) therapy. Report of the case: 50-year-old woman with no significant past medical history who presented with one day of petechial rash on her arms, chest and legs. Patient reports that she had just completed a 7- day course of TMP/SMX (1-double strength tablet twice a day) for uncomplicated UTI by her PMD. On admission, the patient was hemodynamically stable, and complete blood cell count revealed a platelet count of 2000/uL. TMP/SMX was believed to be the most likely cause of thrombocytopenia. After discontinuation of TMP/SMX and treatment with 2 units of platelets, 1gm intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and oral dexamethasone, repeat CBC showed a stable platelet count of 90,000/uL. Patient was successfully discharged on hospital day 3 with outpatient follow up with the hematology clinic for further monitoring. Conclusion and Discussion: Differential diagnosis of severe thrombocytopenia include drug induced thrombocytopenia (DITP), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), post transfusion purpura (PTP), immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), or catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). Drug-dependent antibodies are an unusual class of antibodies that bind firmly to specific epitopes on platelet surface glycoproteins only in the presence of the sensitizing drugs. DITP typically has an abrupt onset of severe thrombocytopenia, usually less than 20,000/uL. Thrombocytopenia usually begins to recover within 1-2 days after the offending drug is discontinued and platelet levels usually normalize within one week as demonstrated in our case report. Pharmacological treatment can include platelet transfusions in case of severe, overt bleeding, corticosteroids or IVIG administration. In most cases, however, discontinuation of the offending drug is sufficient.
Keywords
thrombocytopenia, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, bactrim, adverse drug reaction
Copyright
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