Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia due to metronidazole treatment in a case with acute gastroenteritis

Abstract

In cases with gastroenteritis, the treatment is based on fluid and electrolyte replacement. Antibacterial or antiparasite therapy could be given in cases where bacterial or parasite microorganism is possible. However metronidazole therapy should not be initiated empirically without parasitological evaluation of the feces. Metronidazole is an antianaerobic and antiprotozoal effective drug and although it is well tolerated, it can cause hematological and neurological adverse effects in some patients.

Herein, we report an 84 years old male who has given metronidazole therapy with the diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis and developed leukopenia and thrombocytopenia as side effects of the therapy. It must be kept in mind that hematologic side effects such as neutropenia and thrombocytopenia could occur during or after the metronidazole therapy and those patients should be followed closely.  

Keywords

• Acute gastroenteritis,metronidazole,thrombocytopenia,leukopenia,adverse effect

Metronidazol tedavisine bağlı olarak lökopeni ve trombositopeni gelişen akut gastroenterit olgusu

Abstract

Akut gastroenteritlerde tedavinin esası sıvı-elektrolit replasmanıdır. Bakteriyel veya paraziter etken düşünülen olgularda ise antibiyotik veya antiparaziter tedavi uygulanabilir. Gaitanın parazitolojik yönden incelemesi yapılmadan ampirik olarak metronidazol tedavisi başlanmamalıdır. Metronidazol antianaerobik ve antiprotozoal etkili bir ilaçtır, iyi tolere edilmesine rağmen bazı hastalarda hematolojik ve nörolojik yan etkilere neden olabilmektedir.

Bu yazıda akut gastroenterit tanısıyla metronidazol tedavisi başlanan ve metronidazole bağlı yan etki olarak lökopeni ve trombositopeni gelişen 84 yaşında bir olgu sunulmuştur. Metronidazol tedavisi sırasında veya sonrasında lökopeni, trombositopeni gibi ilaca bağlı hematolojik yan etkilerin gelişebileceği akılda tutulmalı ve yan etki gelişen hastalar yakından takip edilmelidir.

Keywords

• Akut gastroenterit,metronidazol,lökopeni,trombositopeni,yan etki

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