A Case of Graves’ Disease with Rare Complication of Carbimazole Induced Pancytopenia

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Pancytopenia, potentially a life threateningcondition is a rare manifestation of Graves’ disease and canoccur due to many causes. Antithyroid drug therapy beingone of the important cause, is associated with serious adverseeffects like agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia. Earlyrecognition and management of this serious complication isimportant.Case Report We report a case of Graves’ disease in an adultmale on carbimazole, who developed pancytopenia, twoyears after restarting the therapy after an initial treatment offour years. He recovered completely after withdrawing theoffending agent, along with blood transfusion and haematinicstreatment. Subsequently he underwent radioactive iodineablation as a definitive treatment for Graves’ disease.Conclusion: Early recognition of pancytopenia in a patientof Graves’ disease on antithyroid medication is important toprevent complications. Radioactive iodine ablation therapyor thyroid surgery are preferred in them, as other antithyroidmedications are contraindicated.