[Reversible panmyelopathy following captopril treatment]

In a 46-year-old female patient suffering from renal hypertension due to polycystic kidney degeneration with creatinine values between 3 and 5 mg/dl leucopenia developed 3 weeks after beginning antihypertensive therapy with the angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor captopril. On continuation of treatment signs of haemorrhagic diathesis appeared 7 months later. Cytology and histology led to the diagnosis of panmyelopathy which, from the clinical findings and the close patient follow-up, was to be regarded as captopril-induced. Bone-marrow regeneration could be shown 6 months after discontinuing the drug. In renal insufficiency, captopril treatment should be monitored using regular haematological tests and the drug withdrawn when leuco- or thrombocytopenia occurs.