Thrombocytopenia as an adverse effect of complementary and alternative medicines, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, foods, and beverages*

Abstract

Reports of thrombocytopenia describing definite or probable evidence for an association of a complementary/alternative medicines, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, foods, and beverages are rare. Whether the occurrence of thrombocytopenia with these substances is uncommon or unrecognized is unknown.

Plexus Slim®-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

“…A case report put forth by Cerulli et al discusses the potential pathogenic side effects of this supplemental drug. These side effects observed included renal failure, thrombocytopenia, liver toxicity, and hemolytic anemia [16,18]. Of special consideration to this specific case, is the fact that in the case presented by Cerulli et al the thrombocytopenia was not observed until months after the initial ingestion.…”

Thrombocytopenia in a nutshell

“…Examples reported were associated with consumption of an African bean, 2 sesame seeds, 3 cranberry juice, 4 cow’s milk, and Jui (a Chinese herbal medicine). 5 To the best of our knowledge this is the first case in which a patient reported systemic symptoms and in which a platelet-reactive antibody specific for a substance present in the implicated food was identified. With these findings and the positive provocation test, our patient’s case met all criteria for establishing a causal association between exposure and thrombocytopenia: 5 exposure to walnuts resulted in acute thrombocytopenia that rapidly recovered to normal; and no other cause for thrombocytopenia was identified.…”

“…5 To the best of our knowledge this is the first case in which a patient reported systemic symptoms and in which a platelet-reactive antibody specific for a substance present in the implicated food was identified. With these findings and the positive provocation test, our patient’s case met all criteria for establishing a causal association between exposure and thrombocytopenia: 5 exposure to walnuts resulted in acute thrombocytopenia that rapidly recovered to normal; and no other cause for thrombocytopenia was identified. The provocation test led to profound thrombocytopenia, systemic symptoms, and bleeding, albeit followed by rapid recovery.…”

Review article. Adverse hematological effects of hexavalent chromium: an overview

“…Royer et al . ( 2010 ) found that after taking oral chromium picolinate tablets for 4–5 months for losing weight, the patient developed acute thrombocytopenia. Platelet count and other abnormalities returned to normal by day 26 after stopping chromium tablets.…”