Thrombocytopenia induced by diazoxide in a patient with an insulinoma

Intern Med. 2014;53(7):759-62. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.53.1094. Epub 2012 Mar 1.

Abstract

A 24-year-old healthy woman presented at our hospital due to hypoglycemia. A fasting test provoked spontaneous hypoglycemia, and contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography revealed a pancreatic tumor. We diagnosed her with insulinoma and initiated diazoxide treatment to prevent hypoglycemia. After 13 days of treatment, she experienced nasal bleeding, and her platelet count decreased from 186,000 /μL to 28,000 /μL. The thrombocytopenia was ameliorated five days after diazoxide was discontinued. Although diazoxide has hyperglycemic effects associated with decreased insulin secretion, diazoxide-induced thrombocytopenia is rare. A complete blood count should be obtained periodically in patients receiving treatment with diazoxide.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diazoxide / adverse effects*
  • Diazoxide / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulinoma / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced*
  • Thrombocytopenia / diagnosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vasodilator Agents / adverse effects
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Diazoxide