Sideroblastic anaemia during fusidic acid treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To describe cases of fusidic acid-associated sideroblastic anaemia from the French Pharmacovigilance database.


RESULTS
Six cases of sideroblastic anaemia associated with oral fusidic acid treatment were retrieved. Four females and two males (mean age 65.3 yr) developed severe anaemia (mean haemoglobin level: 6.9 g/dL) within 32-190 d (mean: 81 d) of treatment. Bone marrow aspirates showed dyserythropoiesis and ringed sideroblasts in all patients. Four patients required repeated blood transfusions. After fusidic acid discontinuation in five patients, complete recovery was obtained. In one patient, rechallenge with fusidic acid resulted in recurrence of anaemia that resolved after definitive discontinuation of the drug.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that fusidic acid should be added to the list of drugs that can cause sideroblastic anaemia.
Vial
T
T
Centre Antipoison-Centre de Pharmacovigilance de Lyon, 162 avenue Lacassagne, 69424 Lyon, France. thierry.vial@chu-lyon.fr
Grignon
M
M
Daumont
M
M
Guy
C
C
Zenut
M
M
Germain
M L
ML
Jaubert
J
J
Ruivard
M
M
Guyotat
D
D
Descotes
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000756:Anemia, Sideroblastic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005672:Fusidic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D025762:Pristinamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
D025762:Pristinamycin; D005672:Fusidic Acid