Pioglitazone induced reversible pancytopenia

Abstract

Pioglitazone is used to improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. This group of drugs is usually well tolerated; however, their use may be associated with several adverse effects including edema, weight gain, macular edema and heart failure. Herein we report a patient who developed pancytopenia on the 7th day of oral pioglitazone treatment for the control of diabetes mellitus and fully recovered 6 days after the cessation of this drug. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of pancytopenia induced by pioglitazone therapy.