Cimetidine used indiscriminately

Posttransfusion purpura with antibodies against human platelet antigen-4a following checkpoint inhibitor therapy: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Posttransfusion purpura (PTP) is a rare condition characterized by severe thrombocytopenia following receipt of blood products. Most reported PTP cases involve alloantibodies directed against human platelet antigen (HPA)-1a. We present a case of PTP-mediated severe thrombocytopenia associated with alloantibodies directed against HPA-4a in the setting of combination checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

CASE REPORT

A 62-year-old woman with rectal melanoma that progressed on combination checkpoint inhibitors (ipilimumab and nivolumab) was admitted for abdominoperineal resection. She received multiple blood products during surgery, and between the sixth and eighth days post-surgery her platelet (PLT) count decreased from 126 × 10⁹ /L to a nadir of 1 × 10⁹ /L. She received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), steroids, and romiplostim with eventual recovery of her PLT count to 50 × 10⁹ /L 20 days after surgery. She tested positive for anti-HPA-4a and was shown not to express HPA-4a, confirming a diagnosis of PTP.

CONCLUSION

Alloantibodies strongly reactive to HPA-4a were detected in this patient who received multiple blood products during abdominoperineal resection surgery. Her thrombocytopenia improved with prompt administration of IVIG, steroids, and romiplostim. PTP must always be considered in patients with acute severe thrombocytopenia after receipt of blood products, and treatment should not be delayed while awaiting laboratory confirmation. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of PTP with antibodies against HPA-4a.

Immune thrombocytopenia resulting from sensitivity to metabolites of naproxen and acetaminophen

In patients suspected of having drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia, antibodies reactive with normal platelets in the presence of the suspect drug can sometimes be identified, but negative results are often obtained. One reason for this is that drug metabolites, formed in vivo, can be the sensitizing agents, but very little is known about the specific metabolites that can cause this complication. Five patients were studied who developed thrombocytopenia after taking the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug naproxen (3 cases) or acetaminophen (2 cases) but in whom drug-dependent antibodies could not be detected by means of the unmodified drugs. In each case, antibodies that reacted with normal target platelets in the presence of a known drug metabolite (naproxen glucuronide or acetaminophen sulfate) were identified. Four of the antibodies were specific for the glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex, but one acetaminophen sulfate-dependent antibody reacted preferentially with GPIb/IX/V. In patients with a clinical picture suggestive of drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia, tests for metabolite-dependent antibodies can be helpful in identifying the responsible agent. (Blood. 2001;97:3846-3850)

Severe thrombocytopenia after paracetamol overdose

Two patients with severe thrombocytopenia after paracetamol overdose are described. The platelet count was lowest two days after the overdose. Neither leucopenia nor anaemia occurred.

Incidence of acetaminophen in donated blood

Acetaminophen levels were determined in 1,176 sera separated from donated blood. The analysis was performed by both a colorimetric method and by high performance liquid chromatography. 6.12% of the samples contained acetaminophen levels ranging from 18 to 58 microgram/ml. The possible clinical significance of such a high incidence of this drug among healthy blood donors is discussed.