Drug-induced agranulocytosis.

Area of Science:

• Internal Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Hematology

Background:

• Agranulocytosis is a severe reduction in white blood cells, increasing infection risk.
• Drug-induced agranulocytosis is a known but often under-reported adverse drug reaction.
• Understanding causative agents and outcomes is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze cases of drug-induced agranulocytosis.
• To identify the causative drugs and their frequency.
• To evaluate patient outcomes and mortality rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 40 drug-induced agranulocytosis cases.
• Data collected from the Department of Medicine, Chiang Mai University (1975-1987).
• Identification of etiologic drugs in 32 cases.

Main Results:

• Thiacetazone and isoniazid were the most frequent causes (25%).
• Propylthiouracil (15%), sulfa drugs (12.5%), and antibiotics (7.5%) were also significant contributors.
• Recovery occurred in 60% of cases after drug withdrawal; mortality was 40%, primarily due to septicemia.

Conclusions:

• Several drug classes are implicated in agranulocytosis, with antituberculosis drugs being prominent.
• Prompt drug withdrawal improves survival, but mortality remains substantial.
• Further research into drug-induced agranulocytosis is warranted to improve patient outcomes.