[Perazine-induced agranulocytosis--case report]

This complication normally arises between the 5th and 10th weeks of treatment and is most commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly women. The risk is estimated to be between 0.04% and 2%, depending on the type of medication and the method of assessment. The present report describes a 16-year-old boy who developed agranulocytosis after 4 weeks of treatment with perazine. The problem was complicated by acute toxoplasmosis. After perazine was discontinued the neutrophils recovered within 5 days; the boy did develop fever, but the infectious disease had a mild course. This case report once again confirms the importance of regular blood control during the early phases of treatment with psychopharmacological agents.