Molecular mechanisms of drug-induced thrombocytopenia

A wide range of drugs can induce thrombocytopenia. Molecular mechanisms for the formation of specific epitopes for all the drug-dependent antibodies a ppear to be very similar A restricted set of glycoproteins an the platelet surface interacts with the drugs to form neoepitopes, to which the drug-dep endent antibodies bind. Molecular mapping of antigenic sites may help chara cterize genetic polymorphisms that predispose to the formation of the antib ody binding sites. Identification of antibody binding sites will enhance ou r understanding of the pathogenesis of immune drug-induced thrombocytopenia . Curr Opin Hematol 2001, 8:294-298 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.