A man with a mysterious hypogammaglobulinaemia and skin rash.

Abstract

We have observed a 26-year-old diabetic male who had been treated with carbamazepine because of seizures. After two months of treatment, he developed a severe illness with skin rash, fever, hepatomegaly and hypogammaglobulinaemia. Since hypogammaglobulinaemia is a rare side effect of carbamazepine treatment, a stop order was given for carbamazepine. The abnormalities (skin, fever, hypogammaglobulinaemia) remained until it appeared that the patient had secretly continued taking the drug. When drug administration was stopped the skin abnormalities improved and serum immunoglobulin levels became normal. The etiology of this transient carbamazepine-induced hypogammaglobulinaemia is unknown.

• Authors: E E van Ginneken, J W van der Meer, P M Netten
• Journal: The Netherlands journal of medicine (Neth J Med) Vol. 54 Issue 4 Pg. 158-62 (Apr 1999) ISSN: 0300-2977 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 10218385 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Carbamazepine

Topics

• Adult
• Agammaglobulinemia (chemically induced)
• Anticonvulsants (adverse effects)
• Carbamazepine (adverse effects)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (complications)
• Drug Eruptions
• Humans
• Male
• Seizures (drug therapy, etiology)