title: Diphenylhydantoin-induced severe yet reversible anemia during pregnancy.
abstract: Diphenylhydantoin (DPH) therapy, often used in treating epileptic seizures, can cause anemia in some patients. A 26-year-old female suffered from convulsions due to encephalitis and was placed on DPH therapy. About two months after the initiation of DPH therapy, her hemoglobin level was 3.8 g/dL. Her anemia improved after the discontinuation of DPH, confirming that the anemia was caused by DPH. Pure red-cell aplasia (PRCA) combined with hemolytic anemia was indicated by results such as erythroid aplasia, an increased LDH level, and a decreased haptoglobin level. PRCA complicated by hemolytic anemia could be responsible for anemia associated with DPH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamagoe
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okoshi
authors.forename: Mana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obata-Yasuoka
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamaoka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010672:Phenytoin