Ticlopidine and fatal aplastic anemia in an elderly woman

Ann Pharmacother. 1994 Oct;28(10):1169-71. doi: 10.1177/106002809402801007.

Abstract

Objective: To report a case of aplastic anemia that developed during ticlopidine treatment.

Case summary: An 84-year-old woman was started on ticlopidine for secondary stroke prevention. Within six weeks of initiating ticlopidine therapy she developed aplastic anemia. She was hospitalized and received empiric antibiotics, antifungal agents, blood transfusions, platelets, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The patient died on day 76 after beginning ticlopidine.

Discussion: Hematologic effects such as neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and pancytopenia have been described with the use of ticlopidine. Previous case reports have associated ticlopidine with the development of aplastic anemia.

Conclusions: Ticlopidine can produce fatal hematologic adverse effects, and its use should be reserved as second-line therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anemia, Aplastic / chemically induced*
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / prevention & control
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ticlopidine / adverse effects*
  • Ticlopidine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Ticlopidine