Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 57, 212-213, 2004
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Short Communication
Severe Leukopenia Associated with Mild Hepatotoxicity in an HIV Carrier Treated with Nevirapine
Eduardo Shahar1,2*, Norberto Krivoy2,3, Sara Weltfriend2,4 and Shimon Pollack1,2
1Institute of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and AIDS, 3Department of Internal Medicine B and Clinical Pharmacology Unit and 4Department of Dermatology, Rambam Medical Center and 2Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 31096 Haifa, Israel
(Received February 23, 2004. Accepted May 20, 2004)
*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Institute of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and AIDS, Rambam Medical Center, P.O.B. 9602, 31096 Haifa, Israel. E-mail: ed_shahar@rambam.health.gov.il
SUMMARY: Nevirapine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase
inhibitor used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV)-infected patients and in post-exposure prophylaxis. However,
its use has recently been limited because of adverse cutaneous
and hepatic effects. We report an HIV-infected woman who developed
mild leukopenia as the first sign of a nevirapine-related adverse
event, which was followed by skin and hepatic toxicity associated
with a more severe leukopenia.