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Updated: Feb 27, 2026

A Uniform Shear Assay for Human Platelet and Cell Surface Receptors via Cone-plate Viscometry
Published on: June 5, 2019
[Long-lasting thrombocytopenia induced by glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor]
J-R Christen1, C Soubrier1, E Martinez2
1Département de médecine interne, hôpital de la Timone, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille, France.
Introduction:
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (anti-GPIIbIIIa) prevent platelet binding to fibrinogen. Transient sometimes-severe thrombocytopenia is a well-known side effect.
Observation:
A 71-year-old patient presented severe thrombocytopenia after the administration of tirofiban (anti-GPIIbIIIa). Corticosteroid treatment was initiated at day 10 because of persistence of severe thrombocytopenia with poor platelet transfusion efficacy. Corticosteroid treatment led to platelet recovery evoking an immune mediated mechanism for thrombocytopenia.
Conclusion:
Anti-GPIIbIIIa are associated with a risk of dramatic thrombocytopenia. The underlying mechanism is poorly understood. The management of these usually transient thrombocytopenias is based on platelet transfusion. As report here, in some cases persistent thrombocytopenia can respond to corticosteroids.
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