Thrombocytopenia Induced by Clopidogrel: A Rare Adverse Effect.

Introduction: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) can be induced by several drugs but there are few case reports of ITP induced by clopidogrel. Second-line treatment with thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) presents solid evidence and should be considered in patients in need of elective surgery who are poor responders to steroids. Case description: We report the case of a 79-year-old male who developed severe immune thrombocytopenic purpura after initiating treatment with clopidogrel. Because he needed elective orthopaedic surgery and he did not respond to corticotherapy and immunoglobulin, second-line treatment with romiplostim was initiated with a significant increase in platelet count. Discussion and conclusion: Clopidogrel can induce ITP and this diagnosis should be considered in patients who present with isolated thrombocytopenia. First-line therapy of ITP is not always successful; second-line treatment with TPO-RA has a high response rate and should be considered in patients in need of elective surgery who have failed to respond to first-line therapy. LEARNING POINTS: Clopidogrel can cause immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP); although there are some published cases in literature, it is a rare adverse effect.ITP induced by clopidogrel should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients experiencing isolated thrombocytopenia.Second-line treatment of ITP with thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) presents solid evidence and should be considered in patients in need of elective surgery who are poor responders to steroids.

Large-vessel vasculitis induced by pegfilgrastim.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is increasingly being used to prevent febrile neutropenia associated with chemotherapy. Large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) has been recognized as a rare side effect of G-CSF treatment. We report a case of G-CSF associated LVV in a patient with breast cancer. While clear pathogenic mechanisms remain unknown, G-CSF may cause vasculitis due to inflammatory cytokines production. This adverse reaction should be recognized in patients with suggestive symptoms following the administration of pegfilgrastim. A 56-year-old woman with luminal B breast cancer who had undergone surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, initially with paclitaxel, was started on a doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide protocol, followed by supportive use of long-acting G-CSF pegfilgrastim. Following the administration of pegfilgrastim, the patient developed intermittent fever and was given empiric antibiotics in the outpatient setting with no improvement. There were no signs of cancer progression, and the contrast-enhanced CT scan highlighted wall thickening of the aortic arch and the proximal segment of the subclavian artery, which was not present in previous imaging studies. The patient was diagnosed with LVV, and a differential diagnosis was performed to rule out paraneoplastic setting, immune-mediated diseases, infection or other drug-induced vasculitis. Treatment with steroids was initiated and tapered with significant improvement and resolution of the radiological signs of aortitis.

A Case of Brucellosis with Possible Ileal Involvement.

INTRODUCTION: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that can involve different organs and tissues. Fever, fatigue, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenia, and arthritis are the usual modes of presentation. Gastrointestinal manifestations of human brucellosis are common but documented ileal involvement is extremely rare. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 68-year-old female presented with a history of 10 days of intense temporal migraine, photophobia, and phonophobia with partial response to paracetamol. The patient referred night sweats, anorexia, and colicky abdominal pain after her meals for the past 4 months followed by diarrhea. She denied nausea, vomiting, hypersensitivity of the scalp, blurry vision, melena, or rectal bleeding. She denied travelling or contact with animals. Physical examination revealed fever (38.3°C) and splenomegaly. Laboratory workup revealed Hb 7.8 g/dL, leukopenia (3.47 × 109/L), C-reactive protein 5.94 mg/dL, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate 23 mm/h. Abdominal ultrasound showed hepatic steatosis and mild homogeneous splenomegaly. Chest radiography was normal. Lumbar puncture; transcranial, carotid, and temporal arteries Doppler, and head computed tomography (CT) did not show any significant changes. Abdominal CT showed diffuse thickening of the ileum and some mildly swollen locoregional lymph nodes. Fecal calprotectin was not elevated. Blood cultures and serologies were positive for Brucella (positive Rose-Bengal test, ELISA IgM-positive, IgG-negative anti-brucella antibody serology and positive Huddleson reaction - titer 1:320). The patient was started on rifampicin 600 mg/day and doxycycline 100 mg q. 12 h for 10 weeks with good clinical and analytical response. Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy were normal, although the last was done already under antibiotic treatment. DISCUSSION: Although gastrointestinal manifestations of brucellosis are quite common, ileitis is thought to be extremely rare. In countries where brucellosis is endemic, doctors must consider this diagnosis when faced with patients with systemic symptoms and diarrhea or abdominal pain. Early recognition of brucellosis and institution of appropriate therapy usually leads to a good recovery without complications.

INTRODUÇÃO: A brucelose é uma zoonose que pode envolver diferentes órgãos e tecidos. A apresentação habitual consiste em febre, cansaço, linfadenopatias, hepatoesplenomegalia, citopenias ou artrite. As manifestações gastrointestinais de brucelose humana são comuns, mas a documentação do envolvimento ileal é extremamente rara. DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: Doente de 68 anos, sexo feminino, apresentouse com quadro com dez dias de evolução de cefaleia temporal intensa, fotofobia e sonofobia, com resposta parcial a terapêutica com paracetamol. A doente referia sudorese noturna, anorexia e dor abdominal tipo cólica após as refeições durante os últimos quatro meses seguida de diarreia. Negava náuseas, vómitos, hipersensibilidade do escalpe, visão turva, melenas ou retorragia. Negava viagens ou contacto com animais. Ao exame objetivo destacavase febre (38,3 ° C) e esplenomegalia. Os estudos laboratoriais revelaram Hb 7,8 g/dL, leucopenia (3,109 × 47/L), proteína C-reativa 5,94 mg/dL, velocidade de sedimentação 23 mm/h. A ecografia abdominal mostrou ligeiro aumento do fígado (estatose) e esplenomegalia ligeira e homogénea. Radiografia de tórax normal. Punção lombar; Doppler transcraniano, carotídeo e das artérias temporais e tomografia computorizada (CT) craniana sem alterações significativas. A CT abdominal mostrou espessamento difuso do íleon e algumas pequenas adenopatias locorregionais. As hemoculturas e serologias foram positivas para Brucela (Rosa Bengala positivo, serologia anti-Brucela ELISA IgM-positivo, IgG-negativo; reação de Huddleson positiva - título 1: 320). Foi iniciada terapêutica com rifampicina 600 mg/dia e doxiciclina 100 mg de 12 em 12 h durante 10 semanas com boa resposta clínica e laboratorial. Endoscopia digestiva alta e baixa sem alterações, apesar de a última ter sido realizada já sob terapêutica antibiótica. DISCUSSÃO: Embora as manifestações gastrointestinais de brucelose sejam comuns, pensase que a ileíte seja extremamente rara. Em países onde a brucelose é endémica, os médicos devem considerar esta hipótese diagnóstica quando na presença de sintomas sistémicos e diarreia ou dor abdominal. O reconhecimento precoce da brucelose e a instituição de terapêutica adequada levam geralmente a uma boa recuperação sem complicações.