A Rare Case of Levetiracetam-Induced Hemolytic Anemia
This is the case of a 77-year-old female patient with Alzheimer's disease, complicated by partial complex seizures. Levetiracetam was administered, which provoked hemolytic anemia. An extensive laboratory evaluation was suggestive of a non-immune etiology. Subsequent discontinuation of levetiracetam resulted in improvement of hemoglobin. Pancytopenia has been reported with the use of levetiracetam, but not isolated anemia. With this case report, we want to increase awareness of a potentially serious adverse reaction provoked by levetiracetam, a preferred anticonvulsive drug in the geriatric population.
Authors
- Katia Sánchez González (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7049-9827)
- Pedro D. Gil de Rubio Cruz
- Dorimar Morales Torres
Institutions
- University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras (PR)
- Central University of the Caribbean (PR)
- Puerto Rico Department of Health (PR)
- University of Puerto Rico at Carolina (PR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2026-03-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.105064
- Primary Topic
- Pharmacological Effects and Toxicity Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00