Drug induced chronic acquired pure red cell aplasia in adolescent boy.

Acquired Pure red cell Aplasia (PRCA) is a disorder seen rarely in children and adolescents. Drugs like sodium valproate and carbamazepine have emerged as an important cause of acquired PRCA, when used for a long duration. Apart from the neurological side-effects, haematological side-effects in form of aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis are well-documented in carbamazepine therapy. The haematologic side-effects of carbamazepine, although not common, should nevertheless be borne in mind due to the serious, prolonged and sometimes even fatal consequences. Carbamazepine is a commonly prescribed drug in today’s scenario and it is important to be aware about its common and uncommon side-effects. We report a case of Carbamazepine induced pure red cell aplasia in an adolescent boy. Since, this drug induced PRCA is reversible if recognised early, it is worthwhile to be aware of this complication to prevent permanent morbidity due to generalised bone marrow hypoplasia.

Chronic maternal dietary iodine deficiency but not thiocyanate feeding affects maternal reproduction and postnatal performance of the rat.

Iodine deficiency disorders affect reproductive performance in the afflicted populations. Environmental iodine deficiency (ID) and goitrogens are important in their aetiology. We observed earlier that chronic maternal dietary ID but not goitrogen feeding altered the blood-brain barrier nutrient transport in adult rats. Whether similar differences exist in their effects on reproduction of dams and postnatal performance of the offspring has been assessed. Inbred, female, weaning WNIN rats were rendered hypothyroid by feeding for 8-12 weeks, a low iodine test diet or a control diet with added potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) (@ 25 mg/rat/day). Following mating with control males, they continued on their respective diets till their pups were weaned. Indices of reproductive performance such as percentage of conception, mortality of dams during pregnancy and parturition, litter size, and survival of pups till weaning were affected markedly by ID but not thiocyanate feeding. Neither ID nor thiocyanate feeding from conception or parturition affected their reproductive performance. Nevertheless, postnatal weight gain of pups was less in all the three ID groups but not thiocyanate fed dams. Rehabilitation of chronically ID pregnant dams from conception or parturition did not improve their pregnancy weight gain, litter size or birth weight of pups but decreased abortion and mortality of mothers during pregnancy and parturition. Rehabilitation improved the pups' postnatal weight gain but the effect was only moderate. Based on the results of the present study it may be suggested that maternal ID but not thiocyanate feeding affects reproductive performance and postnatal performance of their offspring.