Acute isoniazid neurotoxicity during preventive therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe rare side effects of treatment with isoniazid.


METHODS
Descriptive case report.


METHODS
Medical intensive care unit in a university medical center.


METHODS
A 14-yr old previously healthy girl receiving preventive isoniazid therapy who suddenly developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures and coma.


METHODS
Patient was sedated and mechanically ventilated. She also received pyridoxine intravenously.


RESULTS
An isoniazid overdose was not confirmed. Computed tomography of the brain and electroencephalogram revealed nothing abnormal. Seizures gradually disappeared within 2 hrs after sedation and treatment with pyridoxine. The patient was discharged on day 14 without consequences and has been well for 10 mos. No seizures reappeared after isoniazid was discontinued.


CONCLUSIONS
We caution against possible isoniazid neurotoxicity in healthy individuals using recommended preventive doses.
Martinjak-Dvorsek
I
I
Center for Intensive Internal Medicine, University Medical Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia-Europe.
Gorjup
V
V
Horvat
M
M
Noc
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003128:Coma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011736:Pyridoxine; D007538:Isoniazid