Octreotide-induced thrombocytopenia: a case report

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/mm(3 )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.