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Valproate-induced panhypogammaglobulinemia

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Abstract

Valproate is one of the most used anti-epileptic drugs. Its common side effects are nausea, vomiting, weight gain, hair loss, tremor, changes in behavior, slowed thinking and impaired liver function. Blood dyscrasias are also relatively frequent and a few studies reported changes in serum immunoglobulin concentrations with valproate treatment. We describe a case of panhypogammaglobulinemia with transient pancytopenia due to valproate. Pancytopenia was recovered after discontinuation of valproate but panhypogammaglobulinemia has been persisting. Intravenous immunoglobulin is being administrated monthly. Previous reports describe that other sodium channel blockers, such as phenytoin and carbamazepine, have been associated with hypogammaglobulinemia. This report also suggests that immunodeficiencies can be caused by valproate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, 271, Cheonbo St., Uijeongbu-si, 480-717, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea

    Young-Hoon Kim

  2. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Songeui Campus, Banpo 4-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701, Republic of Korea

    Tae-Hoon Eom, Hyun-Seung Lee, Pil-Sang Jang & Young-Hoon Kim

Authors
  1. Tae-Hoon Eom
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  2. Hyun-Seung Lee
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  3. Pil-Sang Jang
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  4. Young-Hoon Kim
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Correspondence to Young-Hoon Kim.

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Eom, TH., Lee, HS., Jang, PS. et al. Valproate-induced panhypogammaglobulinemia. Neurol Sci 34, 1003–1004 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1153-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1153-3

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