Carbamazeplne

Severe.leneraUd re.dlna After 2 months on carbamazepine (200mB bid) for epilepsy, a IS-year-old boy presented with a 2-week history of malaise. sore throat and cough. He had a scarlaciniform rash with de.'iquama(ion, palatal petechiae. lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. Serum ClIrbamazepine wa..; in the therapeutic range. Values for white cell count. platelets. alkaline phosphatase, b-glutamyl transpeptidase. aspartate aminotransferal>'C and prothrombin time were all abnormal. Atrial ectopic beats and cardiomegaly were present. Tests for infectious mononucleosis were negative. DNA binding antibody level was raised 07 units! roO but antinuclear factor was not detected. Carbamazepine was withdrawn and the lymphadenopathy and skin rash began ({l improve. Prednisolone was started 7 days later with funher improvement. He was discharged 4 weeks arter admission. and at 3 months aJllaboratory tests were normal. Taylor. M.W .elaL l'raclilioner 125, 21 9 (l'eb 1981)

0157-7271/81/0403-0003/0$00.50/0 (c) ADISPress Reactions 3 Apr 1981 3