Sudden onset agranulocytosis and hepatotoxicity after taking methimazole.

Jing Yang, Jing Zhong, Ling-Zhi Zhou, Tao Hong, Xin-Hua Xiao, Ge-Bo Wen

Department of Metabolism & Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, China.

Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) 2012

filter terms:

Agranulocytosis is a rare adverse effect of methimazole. The usual duration of treatment prior to the onset of agranulocytosis is approximately 1 to 4 months, and can be as long as 1 year. Agranulocytosis together with hepatotoxicity is an extremely rare idiosyncratic side effect of methimazole treatment. We present an unprecedented case of a Grave's disease patient who showed a strong reaction to methimazole with obvious agranulocytosis and hepatotoxicity which developed only six days after administration. This case, along with a literature review, is offered with the aim to increase the awareness of physicians of sudden onset agranulocytosis and hepatotoxicity from methimazole.

Citation

Jing Yang, Jing Zhong, Ling-Zhi Zhou, Tao Hong, Xin-Hua Xiao, Ge-Bo Wen. Sudden onset agranulocytosis and hepatotoxicity after taking methimazole. Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan). 2012;51(16):2189-92