Journal List > J Korean Endocr Soc > v.21(6) > 1003338

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Lee, Lee, Sung, Bae, Kim, and Oh: A Case of Methimazole-induced Pancytopenia: Successful Treatment with Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor
Case Report
Journal of Korean Endocrine Society

Journal of Korean Endocrine Society 2006; 21(6): 548-551.

Published online: 20 December 2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/jkes.2006.21.6.548

A Case of Methimazole-induced Pancytopenia: Successful Treatment with Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor

Joo Hyoung Lee, Jihyun Lee, Sang Hun Sung, Sung Hwa Bae, Sang Gyung Kim1, Hoon Kyu Oh2

Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University, Korea.

1Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University, Korea.

2Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University, Korea.

Received 15 May 2006       Accepted 25 July 2006

Copyright © 2006 Korean Endocrine Society

Abstract

Methimazole has remained the cornerstone for the treatment of hyperthyroidism since 1940's and it is a well-tolerated antithyroid drug. Pancytopenia is one of the major side effects of methimazole, but its occurrence is very rare. There have been some case reports about methimazole-induced pancytopenia that was treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), but its usefulness is still controversial. We present here a case of a 50-year-old female who had been treated with methimazole for hyperthyroidism and she subsequently presented pancytopenia. G-CSF was given for 10 days and she successfully recovered from the pancytopenia.

Keywords: Hyperthyroidism, Methimazole, Pancytopenia, Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Peripheral blood smear shows pancytopenia at day 4 (×400, Wright stain).
jkes-21-548-g001
Fig. 2
Bone marrow aspiration shows hypocellularity for her age with adequate megakaryocyte. Mature myeoid and erythroid series are markedly decreased (×400, Wright stain).
jkes-21-548-g002
Fig. 3
Diagrammatic description of the patient's course from day of hospital admission. G-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
jkes-21-548-g003

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