Rheumatology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Thrombocytosis Development due to the Use of Methotrexate in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Ercan Kaydok and Ender Salbas

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic rheumatic disease that affects various organs and systems. In the course of rheumatoid arthritis, various blood disorders including thrombocytosis (>400.000/mm3), an increase in the platelet count are observed. Methotrexate is a disease-modifying agent used in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and various rheumatic diseases. During methotrexate treatment, hematologic problems such as leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia are observed generally due to bone marrow suppression. In our case report, we aimed to present a 56 year-old patient who has arthritis of both hands and was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and whose platelet values were initially within normal limits and then increased up to the level of 808.000/microliter despite a clinical and laboratory suppression in the disease activity after the initiation of methotrexate treatment, and quickly returned to normal values after the termination of methotrexate treatment. In conclusion, we think that the response of the blood profile to drugs may be very different, as in our case, and therefore, patients should be carefully monitored.