Azathioprine Induced Pancytopenia in a Patient with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease: A Case Report

Abstract

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease is a multisystem autoimmune inflammatory disorder that affects the eyes, ears, skin, and the nervous system. It is a rare disease that mainly affects Asian, Hispanic, and Middle Eastern populations. Systemic steroids and immunosuppressants are frequently used to treat autoimmune diseases like this. Despite the fact that they reduce morbidity, immunosuppressants can have a number of side effects and are difficult to use, particularly when treating uncommon autoimmune illnesses. We present a case of a 56-year-old man who visited our health facility complaining of increased tears in both eyes along with bilateral blurring of vision. He was subsequently identified as having Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. After prednisolone and methotrexate failed to have the desired effect, he was treated with azathioprine, which caused pancytopenia, and manifested as fever with positive blood culture for a coagulase-negative staphylococcus infection.

Keywords

• case reports; pancytopenia; steroid.