[Severe tirofiban-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombotic microangiopathy after percutaneous coronary intervention]

A 76-year-old patient suffered a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and was admitted to our Chest Pain Unit (CPU) for further diagnostics and therapy.

Coronary angiography revealed an occlusion of the right coronary artery and catheter intervention with stent implantation was performed. Due to a high thrombotic burden, application of tirofiban was initiated. In the following, the patient developed hemodynamic instability, hemoptysis and a substantial decrease of the platelet count.

Tirofiban therapy was immediately stopped. Volume therapy led to hemodynamic stabilisationand hemoptysisdisappeared. Thrombocytes normalised after application of a platelet concentrate and prednisolone. One day later, the patient developed pulmonary hemorrhage with asphyxial cardiac arrest.Within the next few days, a renewed decrease of thrombocytes occurred. Despite normalization of thrombocytes after another transfusion, the patient died in consequence of a severe sepsis.

Thrombocytopenia is a rare but potentially severe complication of tirofiban therapy. Therapeutic strategies include termination of the triggering medication, clarification of differential diagnoses and transfusion of platelet concentrates, if necessary.