Pancitopenia inducida por azatioprina: Casos clínicos / Azathioprine-induced pancytopenia: Case series

La azatioprina es un fármaco inmunosupresor que ha demostrado efectividad en el tratamiento de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal. Su metabolito, la 6-mercaptopurina, es metaboliza-do a través de la tiopurina metiltransferasa. Los pacientes con baja actividad enzimática pueden presentar mayores efectos secundarios. El más frecuente es la leucopenia. Más raramente, aparece mielotoxicidad en forma de pancitopenia. La monitori-zación de la actividad de la tiopurina metiltransferasa permite obtener un perfil individualizado de la actividad enzimática, pero no debe reemplazar la monitorización mediante la realización de hemogramas seriados. Ante un paciente con neutropenia grave y fiebre, debe iniciarse un tratamiento antibiótico empírico precoz para evitar infecciones graves y diseminadas. Se presentan dos casos con esta complicación.

Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive drug that has shown effectiveness in inflammatory bowel disease treatment. Its metabolite, 6-mercaptopurine, is metabolized through thiopurine methyltransferase. Patients with low enzyme activity may have more frequent and severe side effects. The most common is leukopenia, and rarely pancytopenia. The thiopurine methyltransferase activity monitoring shows an individualized profile of enzymatic activity but it should not replace monitoring by performing serial blood counts. In patients with fever and severe neutropenia, early empirical antibiotic treatment should be initiated to prevent severe and disseminated infection. Two patients with this condition are reported.

Case report of vancomycin-induced pancytopenia

Abstract: Vancomycin is the first-line agent for the treatment of bacteremia, endocarditis, pneumonia, cellulitis, and osteomyelitis. Pancytopenia is an uncommon adverse effect of vancomycin therapy, with only a few cases of vancomycin-related neutropenia and pancytopenia described in the literature. We describe a case of a 56-year-old man who was diagnosed with chronic paraspinal abscess and started on intravenous vancomycin. He was re-admitted two weeks later with new-onset pancytopenia. Discontinuation of vancomycin resulted in improved cell counts. Physicians should monitor cell counts in patients who are on long-term intravenous vancomycin.

Combined acute interstitial pneumonitis and pancytopenia induced by low-dose methotrexate in a hemodialysis patient treated for bullous pemphigoid

Methotrexate has been widely used for many years in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Acute pneumonitis and bone marrow suppression are very serious side effects in methotrexate treatment. A 48-year-old man with end-stage renal disease undergoing chronic hemodialysis developed combined acute pneumonitis and pancytopenia after a cumulative dose of 20 mg methotrexate for bullous pemphigoid. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) can effi ciently decrease serum methotrexate concentration. A rapid improvement of clinical symptoms and resolution of pulmonary opacifi cation were found after CRRT. Blood cell counts returned to normal after component blood transfusion and cytokine supportive therapy. Patients with impaired renal function are at high risk of methotrexate toxicity, and low-dose methotrexate should be prescribed with great caution.

Toxicidad severa asociada a metotrexato: caso clínico / Severe toxicity associated with methotrexate: clinical case

El metotrexato (MTX) es un agente anti folato con actividad antineoplásica e inmunosupresora que ha alcanzado gran aceptación y uso debido a su eficacia en distintos desórdenes reumatológicos. Sin embargo, tiene el potencial para causar complicaciones serias y, a veces, mortales, principalmente hematológicas, hepáticas o pulmonares. Los factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de pancitopenia incluyen edad avanzada, alteración de la función renal, niveles bajos de ácido fólico y uso concomitante de otros fármacos que modifiquen el metabolismo del folato. Presentamos un caso de pancitopenia severa y estomatitis, secundaria a una dosis estándar de MTX, en una paciente de 53 años de edad, con Artritis Reumatoídea (AR) de 10 años de evolución y enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis trisemanal. Es muy importante prestar atención a los factores de riesgo asociados a la aparición de efectos adversos antes de iniciar terapia con MTX en pacientes reumatológicos. Además, los pacientes con MTX deben ser monitorizados durante su tratamiento para identificar efectos adversos hematológicos severos, como la pancitopenia.

Methotrexate (MTX) is an agent for anti-folate with antineoplastic activity and immunosuppressive that has achieved wide acceptance and use due to its efficacy in various rheumatologic disorders. However, it has the potential to cause complications serious and sometimes deadly, primarily hematologic, hepatic or pulmonary. The factors of risk for the development of pancytopenia include advanced age, renal function, low levels of folic acid and concomitant use of other drugs that alter the metabolism of folate. We present a case of severe pancytopenia and stomatitis, secondary to a standard dose of MTX in patient of 53 years, with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of 10 years of evolution and chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis immediately. It is very important to pay attention to the risk factors associated with the occurrence of adverse effects, before initiating therapy with MTX in rheumatologic patients. In addition MTX patients should be monitored during treatment to identify severe haematological adverse effects such as pancytopenia.

Two Cases of Mushroom Poisoning by Podostroma Cornu-Damae

Podostroma cornu-damae is a rare fungus that houses a fatal toxin in its fruit body. In this case report, two patients collected and boiled the wild fungus in water, which they drank for one month. One patient died, presenting with desquamation of the palms and soles, pancytopenia, severe sepsis and multiple organ failure. The other patient recovered after one month of conservative care after admission. We found a piece of Podostroma cornu-damae in the remaining clusters of mushrooms. Mushroom poisoning by Podostroma cornu-damae has never been previously reported in Korea.

Pancitopenia associada ao uso de dipirona: relato de caso / Pancytopenia possibly induced by dipyrone: case report

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dipirona (metamizol)é um fármaco amplamente utilizado como antitérmico e analgésico. Há evidências que, quando administrado por via venosa, ocasiona efeito antitérmico mais intenso que o paracetamol. Relatos de agranulocitose relacionada ao uso da dipirona têm sido divulgados desde 1935 e motivaram sua suspensão de comercialização em alguns países como: Estados Unidos, Reino Unido, Austrália, Noruega, entre outros. No Brasil, o uso da dipirona é permitido sem restrições.O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar um caso de pancitopenia associada ao uso de dipirona. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo masculino, 19 anos, com paralisia cerebral e epilepsia, internado na unidadede terapia intensiva, em tratamento de pneumonia, desenvolveu dois episódios de pancitopenia tendo como causa mais provável o uso de dipirona. CONCLUSÃO: A dipirona administrada por via venosa pode ser uma causa de pancitopenia em pacientes Médicados. Sendo assim, é necessária especial atenção aos casos de distúrbios hematológicos induzidos por medicamentos. Apesar de não tão frequentes na prática clínica, a retirada imediata destes fármacos pode levar a reversão de quadros graves.

Intoxicación aguda con metotrexato usado con fines abortivos: descripión de 2 casos / Acute intoxication with methotrexate, used as an abortive: report of two cases

Acute intoxication with methotrexate, used as an abortive, has not been described in Chile. We report two female patients, aged 15 and 24 years old, who presented with mucositis, erythrodermia, pancytopenia, and elevation of hepatic enzymes. Plasma methotrexate levels confirmed the clinical diagnosis and both patients were treated with high leucovorin doses and management of associated complications. In one patient, pregnancy continued, giving birth to a newborn with cranial, face and limb malformations. The second patient had a late rescue with leucovorin and was discharged with a persistent sensory motor neuropathy. Considering the severity of complications and that patients may deny its use, when there is reasonable clinical suspicion of methotrexate intoxication, leucovorin treatment should be started

A case of pancytopenia secondary to low-dose pulse methotrexate therapy in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and renal insufficiency

Most reports on serious MTX toxicity have focused on hepatic abnormalities, while other effects, including hematologic reactions, have not been emphasized. We experienced a case of pancytopenia secondary to MTX therapy in a patient with RA and renal insufficiency. A 67-year-old woman with a 12-year history of active seropositive RA that was a response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hydroxychloroquinine and intra-articular steroid injections, had been followed up and was diagnosed as early chronic renal failure in October, 1993. Recently, because of significant morning stiffness and polyarthralgia, the decision was made to institute MTX treatment. This was begun as a single oral dose of 5mg/week. After 2 doses, the patient was admitted to the hospital with general weakness. Laboratory tests showed a hemoglobin level of 7.9 g/dl, WBC count 1800/mm3 and platelet count of 64000/mm3. The serum creatinine level was 6.1 mEq/dl and the BUN level was 82 mEq/dl. Liver function test results were normal, but the serum albumin level was 2.7 g/dl. The patient subsequently developed fever and blood transfusions, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and intravenous prophylactic antibiotic therapy were required. Her condition was improved. In summary, Low-dose MTX-related adverse hematologic side effects, including fatal pancytopenia, are rare but are a cause of increasing concern in patients with RA and renal insufficiency. Close monitoring of associated risk factors, particularly impaired renal function, should be mandatory for all patients who are receiving MTX therapy.

Salmonella paratyphi a induced pancytopenia-a new association

A case of salmonella paratyphi A fever with reversible pancytopenia in a 15 year old boy who presented with history of high grade continuous fever, epistaxis and haemoptysis, relative bradycardia and splenomegaly is described here. A brief review of the literature on possible causes of reversible pancytopenia in this case is also discussed