A Case of Cefepime-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia

Authors

Rebecca Bystrom, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, USA.
Minkey Wungwattana, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, USA.
Vatche Tchekmedyian, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2022

Journal Title

Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics

MeSH Headings

Adult; Blood Platelets; Cefepime (adverse effects); Humans; Male; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic (chemically induced, diagnosis); Thrombocytopenia (chemically induced)

Abstract

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia (DITP) is a rare adverse event. It is often diagnosed using clinical risk criteria, but this can create diagnostic uncertainty. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 35-year-old man with disseminated Serratia marcescens infection developed severe thrombocytopenia. A drug-dependent platelet-reactive antibody test demonstrated cefepime-dependent platelet-reactive antibodies which confirmed the diagnosis of DITP. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: We describe the first case of cefepime-induced DITP confirmed by a drug-dependent platelet-reactive antibody test. To our knowledge, this is the first proven example of DITP in a fourth-generation cephalosporin.

First Page

556

Last Page

558

Recommended Citation

Bystrom R, Wungwattana M, Tchekmedyian V. A Case of Cefepime-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2022;47(4):556-558. doi:10.1111/jcpt.13546