Levetiracetam-Induced Pancytopenia in an HIV Seropositive Patient With SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Levetiracetam is a widely used and safe antiepileptic drug, and levetiracetam-induced pancytopenia is an uncommon adverse effect. We present a patient case of a middle-aged man with seizures who developed profound pancytopenia within 4 days of starting levetiracetam. We suspected levetiracetam-induced pancytopenia, withdrew the levetiracetam, and started our patient on an alternative medication, which improved his blood count within 24 hours. This is the first patient case demonstrating levetiracetam-induced pancytopenia in an adult with coexisting HIV and SARS-CoV-2 infections, which did not contribute to his pancytopenia. Physicians should be cognizant of this adverse effect when prescribing levetiracetam to treat seizures.