Aripiprazole-Induced Neutropenia in a Seven Year-Old Male: A Case Report

Abstract

Blood dyscrasias are the widely known side effect of the second-generation antipsychotic medications. Aripiprazole rarely causes hematological side effects and it is considered relatively safe. We present the case report of a seven-year-old male who developed acute neutropenia a week after starting aripiprazole. His absolute neutrophil count (ANC) arose spontaneously once the medication was stopped. Clinicians should periodically check ANC in the patients taking aripiprazole as neutropenia could be lethal in extreme cases. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of leukopenia associated with aripiprazole in the child and adolescent population.