title: Pancytopenia associated with levetiracetam in an epileptic woman.
abstract: Haematological toxicity due to antiepileptic drugs is uncommon, but the increased risk of aplastic anaemia has been reported. Few case reports have been published regarding pancytopenia associated with levetiracetam treatment, and its intrinsic pathogenesis is still unknown. We describe the case of a woman aged 77 years who presented with abdominal pain and loss of appetite. She had been taking valproic acid, due to a previous episode of epileptic seizures, and presented with drowsiness and dizziness. Valproate was discontinued and therapy with levetiracetam was initiated. 2 days later, we observed severe anaemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia, which were attributed to levetiracetam. Although she recovered soon after the treatment was discontinued, it took 2 weeks for cell counts to return to normal.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Mostoles, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7532-4585
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García Carretero
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Hospital Universitario de Mostoles, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero Brugera
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario de Mostoles, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olid-Velilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario de Mostoles, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salamanca-Ramirez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam