Acute subdural hemorrhage associated with rifampicin-induced thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Thrombocytopenia is a major adverse effect of several drug treatments. Rifampicin has been recognized as a cause of immune thrombocytopenia. A 68-year-old woman diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis was taking the standard four-drug antituberculosis regimen for 4 months. She presented with decreased responsiveness and headache. Brain MRI revealed subdural hemorrhage along the falx cerebri and high convexity. The platelet count was 8,000 microL(-1). Intracranial hemorrhage due to rifampicin-induced thrombocytopenia has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported. We report a patient with acute subdural hemorrhage associated with rifampicin-induced thrombocytopenia.