Probable Linezolid-Induced Pancytopenia

A 75-year-old male outpatient with cardiac disease, diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency and iron deficiency anemia was prescribed linezolid 600 mg twice daily for a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus diabetic foot osteomyelitis. After one week, his blood counts were consistent with baseli...

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Main Authors: Nita Lakhani, William Thompson, Anne Marie Bombassaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2005-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2005/961613
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author Nita Lakhani
William Thompson
Anne Marie Bombassaro
author_facet Nita Lakhani
William Thompson
Anne Marie Bombassaro
author_sort Nita Lakhani
collection DOAJ
description A 75-year-old male outpatient with cardiac disease, diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency and iron deficiency anemia was prescribed linezolid 600 mg twice daily for a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus diabetic foot osteomyelitis. After one week, his blood counts were consistent with baseline values. The patient failed to return for subsequent blood work. On day 26, he was admitted to hospital with acute renal failure secondary to dehydration, and was found to be pancytopenic (erythrocytes 2.5x1012/L, leukocytes 2.9x109/L, platelets 59x109/L, hemoglobin 71 g/L). The patient was transfused, and linezolid was discontinued. His blood counts improved over the week and remained at baseline two months later. The patient's decline in blood counts from baseline levels met previously established criteria for clinical significance. Application of the Naranjo scale indicated a probable relationship between pancytopenia and linezolid. Clinicians should be aware of this rare effect with linezolid, and prospectively identify patients at risk and emphasize weekly hematological monitoring.
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spelling doaj-art-bd47044669b74658ac3ec7aea249f1562025-02-03T01:26:43ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology1712-95322005-01-0116528628810.1155/2005/961613Probable Linezolid-Induced PancytopeniaNita Lakhani0William Thompson1Anne Marie Bombassaro2London Health Sciences Centre, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Infectious Diseases, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, CanadaLondon Health Sciences Centre, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, CanadaA 75-year-old male outpatient with cardiac disease, diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency and iron deficiency anemia was prescribed linezolid 600 mg twice daily for a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus diabetic foot osteomyelitis. After one week, his blood counts were consistent with baseline values. The patient failed to return for subsequent blood work. On day 26, he was admitted to hospital with acute renal failure secondary to dehydration, and was found to be pancytopenic (erythrocytes 2.5x1012/L, leukocytes 2.9x109/L, platelets 59x109/L, hemoglobin 71 g/L). The patient was transfused, and linezolid was discontinued. His blood counts improved over the week and remained at baseline two months later. The patient's decline in blood counts from baseline levels met previously established criteria for clinical significance. Application of the Naranjo scale indicated a probable relationship between pancytopenia and linezolid. Clinicians should be aware of this rare effect with linezolid, and prospectively identify patients at risk and emphasize weekly hematological monitoring.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2005/961613
spellingShingle Nita Lakhani
William Thompson
Anne Marie Bombassaro
Probable Linezolid-Induced Pancytopenia
Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology
title Probable Linezolid-Induced Pancytopenia
title_full Probable Linezolid-Induced Pancytopenia
title_fullStr Probable Linezolid-Induced Pancytopenia
title_full_unstemmed Probable Linezolid-Induced Pancytopenia
title_short Probable Linezolid-Induced Pancytopenia
title_sort probable linezolid induced pancytopenia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2005/961613
work_keys_str_mv AT nitalakhani probablelinezolidinducedpancytopenia
AT williamthompson probablelinezolidinducedpancytopenia
AT annemariebombassaro probablelinezolidinducedpancytopenia