Pancytopenia levetiracetam

Pancytopenia has been described in two elderly patients who took levetiracetam for seizures [197", 198 ]. 

A 76-year-old woman with seizures secondary to ischemic stroke developed status epilepticus despite treatment with clonazepam. She was given intravenous levetiracetam 1000 mg/day and 2 days later developed pancytopenia, with a hemoglobin concentration of 9.8 g/dl, a platelet count of 83 x 10 A, and a white blood cell count of 5.7 x 10 /1. These changes worsened during the next 4 days and she required blood transfusion. Levetiracetam was withdrawn and 2 days later the blood cell count improved. When rechallenge with oral levetiracetam 0.5 g/day 1 year later pancytopenia rapidly recurred. 

Gallerani M, Mari E, Boari B, Carletti R, Marra A, Cavallo M. Pancytopenia associated with levetiracetam treatment. Clin Drug Investig 2009 29(11) 747-51. 

Aydogan H, Yalign S, Karahan MA, Biiyiikfrat E. Pancytopenia associated with levetiracetam treatment in Lafora s disease. Blood Coagul... 

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