Document 0565
 DOCN  M9650565
 TI    Severe thrombocytopenia in patients treated with suramin: evidence for
       an immune mechanism in one.
 DT    9605
 AU    Tisdale JF; Figg WD; Reed E; McCall NA; Alkins BR; Horne MK 3rd;
       Hematology Branch, National Lung and Blood Institute, National;
       Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
 SO    Am J Hematol. 1996 Feb;51(2):152-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96160435
 AB    Although suramin has long been used to treat human trypanosomiasis,
       recent clinical trials have tested its efficacy against the acquired
       immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and various malignancies.
       Thromobocytopenia was observed in early trials with suramin in AIDS, but
       has been uncommon in patients treated for solid tumors. Here we describe
       5 patients out of a total of 67 (7%) who developed severe
       thrombocytopenia while receiving suramin as part of a phase II clinical
       trial for metastatic prostate carcinoma refractory to hormonal therapy.
       IgG purified from one patient's plasma caused suramin-dependent platelet
       aggregation. There was also evidence of crossreactivity between suramin
       and heparin in this system. An immune mechanism, however, could not be
       documented in the other cases, suggesting that multiple mechanisms may
       be responsible for severe thrombocytopenia in this patient population.
 DE    Antineoplastic Agents/*ADVERSE EFFECTS  Human  IgG/IMMUNOLOGY  Male
       Middle Age  Neoplasm Metastasis  Platelet Aggregation/IMMUNOLOGY
       Prostatic Neoplasms/*DRUG THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY/PATHOLOGY  Suramin/*ADVERSE
       EFFECTS  Thrombocytopenia/*CHEMICALLY INDUCED/IMMUNOLOGY  CLINICAL TRIAL
       CLINICAL TRIAL, PHASE II  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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