Thrombocytopenia and purpura-like lesions associated with clopidogrel

We report a case of moderate thrombocytopenia associated with purpura-like phenomenon (four ecchymoses) that occurred within 72 hours of clopidogrel initiation and resolved promptly with drug withdrawal. This 61-year-old patient previously experienced an adverse skin reaction to ticlopidine without changes in the platelet count and without any other laboratory abnormalities. Since the introduction of clopidogrel instead of ticlopidine for the prevention or treatment of several cardiovascular diseases, only 11 cases of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura among more than 3 million individuals treated with clopidogrel have been reported. Recently, a case of severe thrombocytopenia, without concomitant purpura-like lesions, during therapy with clopidogrel has been described. To our knowledge, this is the first case of thrombocytopenia associated with purpura-like lesions with no evidence of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura during clopidogrel treatment.