Essential thrombocytopenia

Indications Essential thrombocytopenia. To reduce elevated platelet count and the risk of thrombosis Category Phospholipase A2 inhibitor Half-life 3 days... 

Mild thrombocytopenia - Mild thrombocytopenia may remain stable or reverse even if heparin is continued. However, closely monitor thrombocytopenia of any degree. If a count falls below 100,000/mm or if recurrent thrombosis develops, discontinue heparin. If continued heparin therapy is essential, administration of heparin from a different organ source can be reinstituted with caution. 

Registration of adverse effects with Lorenzo s oil has been hampered by the absence of controlled trials. In 22 patients treated for at least 12 months, although Lorenzo s oil did not seem to be beneficial, there were possible adverse effects, such as mild increases in liver enzymes (55%), thrombocytopenia (55%), gastrointestinal complaints (14%), and gingivitis (14%). Furthermore, there were falls in hemoglobin concentration and leukocyte count, and an increase in the plasma alkaline phosphatase concentration the reduction in platelet count did not result in hemorrhage (1). Whether some of the adverse effects of Lorenzo s oil are due to low concentrations of essential fatty acids or caused by reduced dietary fat intake is not known. 

Stibophen is not a cardiovascular drug, but the proposed mechanism by which stibophen induces anemia would also fit the data generated by Freedman et al. (1956) for quinidine anemia and be compatible with Shulman s passive bystander hypothesis for drug-induced thrombocytopenia (Shulman 1958). The essential feature of the mechanism is the formation of a drug-antibody complex which passively adheres to red cells. Complement is fixed by the complex and the cells are lysed as a result. 

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