Agranulocytosis from Carbimazole

Acute cholestatic hepatitis along with agranulocytosis: a rare side effect of carbimazole.

Antithyroid drugs have been used for more than 50 years for the management of hyperthyroidism. Most patients tolerate treatment well but some may develop life-threatening side effects such as agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia and cholestatic hepatitis. A 45-year-old female was diagnosed with severe hyperthyroidism. Treatment with Carbimazole 30 mg/day was initiated. Within six weeks following th...

Change from propylthiouracil to carbimazole proves fatal.

Recent changes in New Zealand have altered the availability of propylthiouracil. It is no longer a ‘funded’ medication but is only available via an ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ application to the Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC). Because of this a number of patients in our practice were changed from propylthiouracil to carbimazole. We report a patient who developed agranulocytosis foll...

Agranulocytosis from levamisole-adulterated cocaine.

INTRODUCTION Afebrile neutropenia with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of zero in a nonimmunocompromised individual is unusual. Outlined is a case of agranulocytosis likely due to levamisole laced cocaine. Given recent publications in the news media and medical journals, this is a pertinent issue for primary care providers. CASE A 57-year-old female presented with painful bowel movements a...

Carbimazole--resistant thyrotoxicosis.

Jaundice due to carbimazole.

On three occasions, a 63 year old housewife with hyperthyroidism developed a reaction which included fever, pruritus, malaise, and, on one occasion, jaundice one to 17 days after taking carbimazole. Challenge with carbimazole was followed within 12 hours by abdominal pain, pruritus, and increased serum transaminase levels. Light microscopy of a liver biopsy showed increase of portal zone cellul...