Octreotide-induced thrombocytopenia: A case report

Abstract

Introduction. Thrombocytopenia is an extremely rare complication of octreotide therapy and can be life threatening in the setting of esophageal variceal bleeding. We report a case of octreotide-induced reversible thrombocytopenia in a 54-year-old Caucasian man with alcohol-induced cirrhosis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Case presentation. Our patient's platelet count dropped from 155,000/mm3 upon admission to 77,000/mm 3 a few hours after initiation of octreotide therapy and stayed low until the drug's administration was discontinued. Significant recovery was achieved quickly after discontinuation of octreotide. Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia is a rare but potentially serious side effect of octreotide therapy and may complicate esophageal variceal bleeding. Physicians should be vigilant in identifying this potentially serious condition. © 2011 Rashidi and Rizvi; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.