[Thrombocytopenia induced by auranofin treatment]

Thrombocytopenia is an infrequent side effect of treatment with auranofin occurring in 0.7% of the patients. Three patients who developed serious thrombocytopenia after three months treatment with auranofin are described. No other side effects were noted. The treatment was discontinued and two of the patients were treated with oral corticosteroids. Platelet counts were normalised within eight weeks. The pathogenesis of the thrombocytopenia is unknown. It is, however, a potentially serious side effect and may develop rather suddenly. Patients should therefore be monitored with regular haematological tests and be instructed to report immediately on any unusual bleeding.