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Gradual thrombocytopenia induced by long‐term trastuzumab exposure
Author(s) -
Miarons M.,
Velasco M.,
Campins L.,
Fernández S.,
Gurrera T.,
LopezViaplana L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/jcpt.12416
Subject(s) - trastuzumab , medicine , immune thrombocytopenia , eltrombopag , platelet , complication , chemotherapy , oncology , romiplostim , cancer , haematopoiesis , breast cancer , thrombopoietin , genetics , stem cell , biology
Summary What is known and objective Unexplained thrombocytopenia is a common clinical problem, and the possibility of drug‐induced thrombocytopenia must be considered. Moreover, chemotherapy agents are known to typically cause thrombocytopenia by suppressing haematopoiesis, but they can also cause immune thrombocytopenia in which the mechanism involves antibody‐mediated platelet destruction. Case description We report a case of severe thrombocytopenia related to trastuzumab administration in which the patient exhibits a slow drift downward in platelet counts with repeated cycles of trastuzumab. A 70‐year‐old woman received a diagnosis of breast cancer and was treated with trastuzumab. She was confirmed to have a severe trastuzumab‐induced thrombocytopenia after the 4th cycle. Retreatment with trastuzumab was not attempted. What is new and conclusion Considering that trastuzumab is being increasingly used and that severe thrombocytopenia is a potentially life‐threatening complication, its association must be seriously considered.