Sideroblastic anemia after prolonged linezolid therapy

• Published in: Rinshō ketsueki Vol. 49; no. 11; p. 1566
• Main Authors: Kakimoto, Tsunayuki, Nakazato, Tomonori, Miura, Reiko, Kurai, Hanako, Yamashita, Daisuke, Sagara, Yuko, Ishida, Akaru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01-11-2008
• Subjects: Abscess - drug therapy; Acetamides - administration & dosage; Acetamides - adverse effects; Aged; Anemia, Sideroblastic - chemically induced; Anti-Infective Agents - adverse effects; Humans; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Linezolid; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Oxazolidinones - administration & dosage; Oxazolidinones - adverse effects; Staphylococcal Infections - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0485-1439
• DOI: 10.11406/rinketsu.49.1566

Linezolid is an effective and well-tolerated antibiotic for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens. Some reports have shown that linezolid treatment for more than 2 weeks has been associated with reversible bone marrow suppression, especially thrombocytopenia and anemia. We encountered a case of sideroblastic anemia following prolonged linezolid therapy in a laryngeal cancer patient. He received linezolid therapy for multiple abscesses due to MRSA. Before treatment, the Hb level was 12.5 g/dl and then slowly decreased to 5.9 g/dl for 2 months during treatment. Ringed sideroblasts were detected in the bone marrow. Linezolid was discontinued and the Hb level was slowly increased. This case was considered to reflect a rare complication of linezolid therapy.