Hematological side effect analysis of linezolid in MDR-TB patients with individual therapy

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and analyze the risk factors for linezolid-induced hematological side effects in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. METHODS: Data were collected from medical records of MDR-TB patients who received linezolid between January 2018 and May 2020. Statistical significance analysis and multivariate analysis were performed with SPSS version 24 software. RESULTS: Hematological side effects were identified in 27 out of 93 patients (29.0%). The most prevalent effect was anemia (29.0%), while the less prevalent effects were thrombocytopenia (3.2%) and leukopenia (2.2%). These side effects were reported after 2 weeks of linezolid treatment. The drug dose was more than 11 mg/kgBW/day or patient weighing less than 54 kg was identified as an independent risk factor for anemia in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia was the most prevalent of linezolid-induced hematological side effects in MDR-TB patients. Therefore, hemoglobin monitoring might be recommended in patients weighing less than 54 kg and after receiving linezolid therapy for at least 2 weeks.