Severe adverse reaction to carbamazepine: significance of humoral and cellular reactions to the drug.

Hypersensitivity to carbamazepine is a well-known phenomenon. The involvement of several organ systems including liver, kidney, bone marrow and other organs have been described. We have observed a 7-year-old boy who had been treated with carbamazepine for seizures. After 10 days of treatment he developed a severe illness with skin rash, high fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphopenia. Only slightly decreased complement components and increased complement split products but no circulating immune complexes were demonstrable on admission. Anti-carbamazepine antibodies, T-cell-activation and a significant T-cell reactivity against carbamazepine were found, indicating specific hypersensitivity. Complete recovery was observed after discontinuation of the drug and steroid treatment.