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Hemolysis and thrombocytopenia following oxaliplatin administration
Author(s) -
LE Brian HC,
JUNEJA Surender,
GIBBS Peter
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of clinical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1743-7563
pISSN - 1743-7555
DOI - 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2005.00001.x
Subject(s) - oxaliplatin , medicine , hemolysis , colorectal cancer , chemotherapy , adjuvant , adjuvant chemotherapy , cancer , gastroenterology , breast cancer
Abstract Oxaliplatin is a platinum derivative with an overall excellent safety profile that has a major role in the treatment of colorectal cancer. With a proven role now in the adjuvant setting, rare but potentially life‐threatening toxicities become a more significant issue. We report here a case of significant postinfusion hemolysis and thrombocytopenia in a patient undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer, and review the literature. Six cases of hemolysis following oxaliplatin treatment have previously been reported, all in the setting of advanced colorectal cancer, with one case resulting in death. In three of the seven reports (including the present case), warning signs of low grade hemolysis were apparent during preceding cycles, with fever and/or back pain during the infusion being the most common feature. Our case appears to be the first reported with a direct antiglobulin test‐negative hemolysis with thrombocytopenia, with each of the previous reports postulating an autoimmune basis. Hemolysis and/or thrombocytopenia are potentially life‐threatening complications of oxaliplatin chemotherapy. With the increasing use of oxaliplatin in the adjuvant setting, clinicians need to be aware of this entity and the possible clinical warning signs that may be evident in preceding cycles.