Pancytopenia associated with levetiracetam treatment.
Levetiracetam is a pyrrolidine derivate that is approved for the treatment of seizures. It has a favourable pharmacokinetic profile, no clearly established pharmacological interactions, good tolerability and offers the possibility of rapid treatment. We describe a case of pancytopenia and multiple infections observed in the context of levetiracetam treatment. A 65-year-old woman who underwent surgical removal of a meningioma developed progressive pancytopenia complicated by pneumonia and multiple liver abscesses after starting levetiracetam therapy. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. A gradual spontaneous recovery of normal haematopoiesis followed discontinuation of levetiracetam.
Gallerani
Massimo
M
Division of Internal Medicine, St Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. m.gallerani@ospfe.it
Mari
Elisa
E
Boari
Benedetta
B
Carletti
Rossella
R
Marra
Anna
A
Cavallo
Michele
M
D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam