Ticlopidine inhibits platelet aggregation and provides beneficial secondary prevention of cerebrovascular and coronary artery disease. Frequently reported adverse effects of ticlopidine include diarrhea, nausea, and rash. However, to our knowledge, there are only a few published reports of the simultaneous occurrence of cholestatic hepatitis and pure red cell aplasia. Here we report a patient with simultaneous severe cholestatic hepatitis and pure red cell aplasia associated with ticlopidine. Although these adverse effects are rare, periodic hematological and liver function tests are recommended after starting ticlopidine.
Acute Disease ; Cholestasis/*chemically induced/diagnosis/etiology ; Female ; Hepatitis, Toxic/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/*adverse effects ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure/*chemically induced/diagnosis/pathology ; Ticlopidine/*adverse effects