Enzalutamide-induced severe thrombocytopenia complicated by a seizure in a 76-year-old man with castration-resistant prostate cancer.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Adverse events with enzalutamide widely used for men with castration-resistant prostate cancer are of interest. CASE PRESENTATION A 76-year-old man developed castration-resistant prostate cancer. He received 160 mg of enzalutamide daily. On the 13th day after treatment, severe thrombocytopenia was observed (platelet count 1.9 × 104/µL). Normal coagulation and fibrinolytic systems suggested thrombocytopenia induced by enzalutamide. Enzalutamide was withdrawn immediately, and platelet count uneventfully recovered to 7.0 × 104/µL and 28.8 × 104/µL 9 and 30 days after discontinuation, respectively. He restarted enzalutamide therapy without thrombocytopenia recurrence. However, 81 days after restarting enzalutamide, he experienced a seizure. There were no significant findings from brain computed tomography, which suggested that the seizure was also an enzalutamide-associated adverse event. CONCLUSION: Thrombocytopenia may occur early following enzalutamide therapy, and blood analysis within 2 weeks after treatment may facilitate its management. Enzalutamide-induced thrombocytopenia, complicated by seizure, has not been reported.