An unusual case report of chlorpheniramine-induced severe thrombocytopenia

D. Bassem Al Hariri; Ahmad Eid Nazzal Alharafsheh; Sheikh W. Jamal; Joudi Alhariri; Memon Noor Illahi; Mohamed Gaafar Mohamedali

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20260321

Authors

D. Bassem Al Hariri Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
Ahmad Eid Nazzal Alharafsheh Pharmacy Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
Sheikh W. Jamal Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
Joudi Alhariri College of Medicine, Syrian private university, Damascus, Syria
Memon Noor Illahi Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
Mohamed Gaafar Mohamedali Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20260321

Keywords:

Drug-induced thrombocytopenia, Chlorpheniramine, Antihistamine, IVIG, Platelet recovery

Abstract

A rare but fatal illness is drug-induced thrombocytopenia (DITP). Severe thrombocytopenia is not frequently linked to antihistamines, especially first-generation H1 blockers like chlorpheniramine. We describe a rare instance of a 31-year-old man who used chlorpheniramine for rhinitis and thereafter got severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count=0×10⁹/L). The patient had subcutaneous petechiae, bilateral conjunctival hemorrhage, and bleeding gums. Other causes were ruled out by laboratory tests, such as bone marrow analysis and peripheral blood smears. After receiving intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and corticosteroids, the patient's platelet counts gradually recovered. This instance emphasizes how crucial it is to identify DITP as a side effect of chlorpheniramine so that early diagnosis and treatment may be carried out.

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