Carbamazepine hypersensitivity syndrome with leukopenia and hepatitis - report of two cases

Abstract

Drug hypersensitivity syndrome is a severe form of hypersensitivity to the antiepileptic agent carbamazepine, particularly in presence of visceral and hematological manifestations that must be evidenced and treated in time. Two cases of female patients with carbamazepine-induced hypersensitivity syndrome are reported. Both patients had prominent general complaints (febricity, weakness). The first patient had leukopenia, lymphadenopathy and rash, while the other one had urticaria, angioedema and hepatitis after administration of carbamazepine. Hypersensitivity reactions induced by antiepileptics widely applied in the practice may be severe and life-threatening if blood elements are involved via the immune or nonimmune mechanisms and if they result in hepatitis.