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Watzal V, Godbersen GM, Weidenauer A, Willeit M, Popper V, Treiber M, Preiss M, Ivkic D, Rabl U, Fugger G, Frey R, Kraus C, Rujescu D, Bartova L. Case report: Interstitial pneumonitis after initiation of lamotrigine. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1203497. [PMID: 37465252 PMCID: PMC10351415 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1203497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The second-generation anticonvulsant lamotrigine is widely used in the psychiatric field as a mood stabilizer or antidepressant augmentation therapy. Although particularly older anticonvulsants are known for their potential to cause hypersensitivity syndromes, newer antiepileptic drugs do hold a certain risk as well. Presenting a case of a 32-year-old male inpatient of African ethnicity suffering from a primary severe depressive episode in the course of a recurrent major depressive disorder, we report the occurrence of a rapid-onset drug-induced pneumonitis. Herewith, the interstitial pneumonitis occurred after the initiation of 25 mg lamotrigine as an augmentation therapy. Except for the clear temporal correlation between the administration of lamotrigine and the onset of pneumonitis, we did not reveal any further potentially causal diagnostic hints. Importantly, no relevant genetic variations of metabolizing enzymes or drug interactions resulting in lamotrigine overdosage as a potential cause of toxicity were identified. Our experience with a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction shortly after the initiation of the largely well-tolerated lamotrigine suggests a potential side effect under the second-generation anticonvulsant although similar adverse events are deemed to be very rare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Watzal
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Godber Mathis Godbersen
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ana Weidenauer
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthäus Willeit
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Valentin Popper
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Treiber
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maximilian Preiss
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dominik Ivkic
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrich Rabl
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gernot Fugger
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Frey
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Kraus
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dan Rujescu
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lucie Bartova
- Clinical Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Diederich S, Hemmeter U, Paulmann M, Mockenhaupt M. Effects of dosage in new users of lamotrigine inducing epidermal necrolysis: Results of the German Registry of Severe Skin Reactions. Epilepsia 2023; 64:1259-1265. [PMID: 36855234 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to determine the impact of dosage in new users of lamotrigine (LTG) and the concomitant intake of valproic acid (VPA) on epidermal necrolysis (EN). METHODS A total of 102 EN cases with exposure to LTG were identified (1992-2018) in the German Registry of Severe Skin Reactions. All cases are validated by an independent expert committee. Six cases were excluded due to lack of exposure in the relevant time frame. Causality assessment was performed with ALDEN (Algorithm for Assessment of Drug Causality in EN) on definite/probable cases (≥12 years; n = 84). Evaluation of dosing regimen was restricted to cases with complete LTG dosing history (n = 74). RESULTS Demography showed a mean age of 42.4 years, female predominance (69%), and low mortality (7.3%). Epilepsy was the indication for use in 87.5%. LTG was the very probable cause in 71.4% and probable cause in 28.6%. On average, one additional antiseizure medication was taken, most frequently VPA (43/84). Combined LTG/VPA treatment showed no statistically significant difference in morbidity or mortality. Mean time latency from initiation of LTG to reaction onset was 24.2 days, varying between 21 days with high initial dose and 29.2 days with low initial dose. Low initial LTG dose (n = 9) revealed higher mortality (22.2%) and higher severity (5/9) than high initial dose (n = 35, mortality = 14.3%, 14/35 higher severity). No patient died when the starting dose was as recommended. The highest mortality (25%) was found in patients with no dose increase (n = 8), which correlated with higher age. Despite the recommended or low initial dose, 52.7% of patients developed EN, in contrast to 39.2% with a slow, recommended, or no dose escalation. SIGNIFICANCE Neither the initial dose, dose escalation, nor the combination with VPA seems to influence the general occurrence of EN. However, EN patients with the recommended starting dose and the recommended dose escalation had the best outcome in terms of clinical severity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Diederich
- Dokumentationszentrum schwerer Hautreaktionen (dZh), Department of Dermatology, Medical Center and Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Hemmeter
- Psychiatric Hospital Wil and Center of Education & Research COEUR, Wil, Switzerland
| | - Maren Paulmann
- Dokumentationszentrum schwerer Hautreaktionen (dZh), Department of Dermatology, Medical Center and Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maja Mockenhaupt
- Dokumentationszentrum schwerer Hautreaktionen (dZh), Department of Dermatology, Medical Center and Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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