Eltrombopag-Induced Thrombocytosis and Thrombosis in Patients With Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) may be either as a primary or in association with an underlying systemic autoimmune etiology (36.2%), particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thrombocytopenia is infrequently observed in APS patients, with an occurrence of 22% to 42% with the frequency of thrombocytopenia, higher in APS and SLE combination than in primary APS. There have been some controversial reports regarding the treatment of APS syndrome with thrombocytopenia with TPO agonists. We like to report a case with APS syndrome with severe thrombocytopenia treated with TPO-RA and developed severe thrombocytosis and thrombosis. Our case represented the first case of TPO-RA in treating APS syndrome developed severe thrombocytosis and our case also concurred that use of TPO-RA agents should be strongly discouraged in APS until larger studies clarify the safety of TPO-RA agents in APS.