Eosinophilia as an adverse drug reaction secondary to thalidomide therapy in Lepra type 2 reactions: a mandate responsibility

Abstract

Limited data are available on eosinophilia as a drug adverse event with immunosuppressant and modulator. We report a case of 40 year old male patient treated with thalidomide for lepra reaction developed thalidomide induced eosinophilia. Eosinophil count rose during thalidomide treatment and decreased in the periods when the patient was off the treatment. Eosinophilia as an adverse event due to thalidomide has been described rarely except in a case of congener Lenalidomide. This case shows a clear temporal relationship between thalidomide and eosinophilia. With reference to this case, monitoring of patients receiving similar treatment can be increased to detect and prevent any possible adverse drug reactions before it adds up to the suffering of the patient in turn improving the quality of medical services and patient care as well. Thus the quality has been improved and managed in the current case.

Keywords

• adverse effect
• thalidomide
• esinophils
• adverse event
• thalidomide
• eosinophilia