Fatal aplastic anaemia associated with clopidogrel

Severe Bone Marrow Suppression Associated with Use of Clopidogrel

“…The mechanism of aplastic anemia induced by clopidogrel is not well understood (possibilities include cumulative toxicity or idiosyncratic reaction). In a previous report, it was suggested that aplastic anemia occurred within 5 -11 months of starting clopidogrel [4]. In our case, pancytopenia occurred within 3 weeks.…”

“…Clopidogrel therapy may also be accompanied by rare life-threatening side effects. Clopidogrel may be found to be associated with severe bone marrow suppression manifested as bone marrow failure, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia [2][3][4]. We present a case of severe pancytopenia caused by clopidogrel.…”

“…In our case, pancytopenia occurred within 3 weeks. In the literature, there are only a few reported cases of hematologic abnormalities due to clopidogrel, including rare cases of neutropenia (0.1%), thrombocytopenia (0.2%), one case of silent aplastic anemia, and one case of febrile pancytopenia [2][3][4]. …”

The Importance of Determining the Drug Agent Responsible for Pancytopenia in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Additional Systemic Diseases

“…Rare instances of aplastic anemia have also been reported as a side effect of clopidogrel. [11] In addition, in patients who developed pancytopenia or aplastic anemia due to this drug, bone marrow biopsies have shown hypocellularity, but no other important findings. [12] In the case of MTX-induced pancytopenia, a bone marrow biopsy finding of hypercellular megaloblastic or aplastic anemia is possible.…”

Clopidogrel hypersensitivity: clinical challenges and options for management

“…have been reported including febrile illness [11,12], leucopenia [13,14], thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura [15,16,17,18], aplastic anemia [19,20,21,22], angioedema [23], serum sickness [24], systemic inflammatory response syndrome [25], and end organ injury [26]. These more serious hypersensitivity reactions are rare, and morbiliform rash remains the most frequently encountered reaction to clopidogrel therapy.…”