Pancytopenia albendazole

When used for 1-3 days, albendazole is nearly free of significant adverse effects. Mild and transient epigastric distress, diarrhea, headache, nausea, dizziness, lassitude, and insomnia can occur. In long-term use for hydatid disease, albendazole is well tolerated, but it can cause abdominal distress, headaches, fever, fatigue, alopecia, increases in liver enzymes, and pancytopenia. 

Hematologic In unresectable cases of alveolar echinococcosis, liver transplantation has been undertaken. A technically difficult liver transplant was performed in a 68-year-old man with end-stage liver disease after treatment with albendazole was tried for a short period but had to be stopped because of pancytopenia [6 ]. 

Albendazole has been a first-line agent for treatment of parasitic infections since 1972 and is still a valuable and commonly used medication. Documented side effects after short-term use include mild abdominal discomfort, nausea, diarrhoea, headaches, dizziness, lassitude and insomnia. Longer term treatment for hydatid disease can lead to the same adverse reactions as seen in shorter courses in addition to alopecia, transaminitis and pancytopenia. 

The most serious adverse reactions, although very rare, are blood dyscrasias following albendazole use. Albendazole has been reported to have induced pancytopenia and aplastic anaemia in treated patients.In one case of pancytopenia, the patient died. It was speculated that pre-existing liver disease resulted in a higher concentration of albendazole sulphoxide in plasma, which may have caused haematotoxicity. The kinetic behaviour of albendazole is dose dependent and is affected by liver disease in humans. 

L. Opatrny, R. Prichard, L. Snell and J. D. Maclean, Death related to albendazole-induced pancytopenia case report and review, Am. J. Trap. Med. Hyg., 2005, 72, 291-294. 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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