B cell aplasia and hypogammaglobulinemia after carbamazepine treatment

Intern Med. 2010;49(7):707-8. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.49.3087. Epub 2010 Apr 1.

Abstract

Although immunosuppressive effects of antiepileptic drug are well known, serious complications of antiepileptic drug are rare. We report a case of hypogammaglobulinemia associated with aplasia of B lymphocytes after carbamazepine treatment. Despite repeated intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy, this condition persisted for more than three months. The present case suggested that routine monitoring of the blood cell count and serum levels of immunoglobulin are important in patients treated with carbamazepine, and a lymphocyte subpopulation study is valuable in cases of hypogammaglobulinemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Agammaglobulinemia / chemically induced
  • Agammaglobulinemia / immunology*
  • Agammaglobulinemia / pathology*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology*
  • Carbamazepine / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Lymphopenia / chemically induced
  • Lymphopenia / immunology*
  • Lymphopenia / pathology*
  • Male

Substances

  • Carbamazepine