Severe Pancytopenia Induced by Valproic Acid

Valproic acid is commonly used to treat pediatric epilepsy. This drug is usually well-tolerated; its side effects are typically mild, with hepatotoxicity being the most widely recognized one. Bone marrow suppression is a rarely seen complication in patients with valproic acid levels more than 125 mcg/mL. Reported cases indicate an increased incidence of hematologic toxicity; however, evidence for management is limited. We report a case of bone marrow suppression induced by a high dose of valproic acid in a 10-year-old male.