Aplastic anemia during ethosuximide medication. Treatment with bolus-methylprednisolone.
A girl, born in 1975, developed severe aplastic anemia in November 1982 while on ethosuximide monotherapy for petit mal epilepsy, about 3 months after starting the ethosuximide medication. She was treated with bolus-methylprednisolone as described by Bacigalupo et al. (13), transfusions and antibiotics. During the third week on this regimen slight improvements in granulocyte and reticulocyte counts were demonstrated, and after approximately 6 weeks she was in stable condition without further need of transfusions. Blood status should be checked regularly during ethosuximide therapy, particularly during the first 6 months.
D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000188:drug therapy; D005013:Ethosuximide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005013:Ethosuximide; D008775:Methylprednisolone