Haloperidol Decanoate-Induced Pancytopenia: A Case Report.

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Pharmacology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Antipsychotic medications are essential for managing schizophrenia.
• Blood dyscrasias, including neutropenia and pancytopenia, are rare adverse effects of antipsychotic therapy.
• Pancytopenia is a serious hematological complication, characterized by a deficiency of all blood cell types.

Observation:

• An 85-year-old African-American female with schizophrenia, treated with haloperidol decanoate, developed pancytopenia.
• The patient's condition necessitated hospitalization due to progressively declining blood counts.
• Infectious and neoplastic causes were excluded through hematological evaluation.

Findings:

• Haloperidol decanoate was identified as the likely cause of pancytopenia.
• Discontinuation of haloperidol decanoate resulted in a gradual three-month recovery of blood counts.
• This case underscores the infrequent but significant risk of pancytopenia associated with antipsychotic use.

Implications:

• Highlights the critical need for vigilant monitoring of blood counts in patients receiving antipsychotics.
• Emphasizes the importance of timely intervention, including drug discontinuation, for managing drug-induced pancytopenia.
• Contributes to understanding the rare but serious hematological complications of antipsychotic pharmacotherapy and their management challenges.