Levetiracetam-induced pancytopenia

Talal Alzahrani; Dana Kay; Saeed A. Alqahtani; Yamane Makke; Linda Lesky; Mohamad Z. Koubeissi

doi:10.1016/j.ebcr.2015.06.001

Epilepsy and Behavior Case Reports (Jan 2015)

Levetiracetam-induced pancytopenia

Talal Alzahrani,
Dana Kay,
Saeed A. Alqahtani,
Yamane Makke,
Linda Lesky,
Mohamad Z. Koubeissi

Affiliations

Talal Alzahrani: Department of Internal Medicine, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
Dana Kay: Department of Internal Medicine, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
Saeed A. Alqahtani: Department of Neurology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
Yamane Makke: Department of Neurology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
Linda Lesky: Department of Internal Medicine, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
Mohamad Z. Koubeissi: Department of Neurology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebcr.2015.06.001
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 4, no. C
pp. 45 – 47

Abstract

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Pancytopenia is a rare side effect of levetiracetam (LEV) that is associated with severe morbidity that requires hospitalization. Here, we report a patient with a right temporoparietal tumor who underwent a temporal craniotomy with resection of the mass and was started on LEV for seizure prophylaxis per the neurosurgery local protocol. The patient developed LEV-induced pancytopenia, which was successfully managed by discontinuation of this medication. Our report aims to increase awareness of this rare cause of pancytopenia among clinicians.

Published in Epilepsy and Behavior Case Reports

ISSN: 2213-3232 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/epilepsy-and-behavior-case-reports/

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