Stibophen (Fuadin),* an organic trivalent antimony compound, has been used for many years in the treatment of schistosomiasis. Many side-effects have been reported, but their occurrence has been infrequent. The more common side-effects have been nausea, anorexia, vomiting, dizziness, joint pains, electrocardiographic changes, eosinophilia, and mild upper abdominal pain. The less frequent side-effects have been fever, maculopapular rash, bradycardia, hypotension, hepatic and renal insufficiency, bone marrow depression, retinitis, and neuritis.1-4
That stibophen may induce thrombocytopenic purpura has been suggested by 4 case reports.1,5,6 In 3 of these cases, stibophen was suspected because it was being used at the time that thrombocytopenia occurred, but the conclusion was not substantiated by either a challenge dose or in vitro studies. The fourth case5 is the only reported instance noted in which stibophen was demonstrated to be the etiologic agent. Thrombocytopenic purpura was produced in a normal person by administering stibophen