title: Leukemoid reaction secondary to hypersensitivity syndrome to phenobarbital: a case report.
abstract: The most important adverse effects of phenobarbital, an anticonvulsant drug, are behavior and cognitive alterations. Hypersensitivity syndrome caused by phenobarbital presenting with a leukemoid reaction is a rare side effect, which is rarely ever reported and needs to be known. We report on a 27-year-old Chinese woman who experienced hypersensitivity syndrome three weeks after the initiation of phenobarbital. The patient developed fever, skin rash, face swelling, lymphadenopathy, myalgia, hepatitis, eosinophilia, atypical lymphocytes and leukocytosis. Along with the pathological progress of the disease, the patient noticed a gradual exacerbation of her symptoms. And the highest leukocyte count was up to 127.2 x 10(9)/L. After discontinuing of phenobarbital and administration of methylprednisolone combined with the intravenous immunoglobulin shock therapy, all initial symptoms improved and the leukocyte count normalized. This case is reported because of its rarity of the leukemoid reaction secondary to hypersensitivity syndrome to phenobarbital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenereology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Qinghai
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yuanqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yangmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Guiying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qianjin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007955:Leukemoid Reaction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010634:Phenobarbital