[Drug-induced agranulocytosis in rheumatology. A retrospective study of 12 cases]

Abstract

Objective: the aim of this study is to determine the clinical characteristics of drug-induced agranulocytosis in rheumatology.

Patients and method: it is a retrospective monocentric study, including all cases of rheumatologic drug-induced agranulocytosis followed between January 1985 and December 2005.

Results: eight female and 4 men, mean age 62.5 years (range: 17-79), were included in the present study. The causative drugs were: anti-inflammatory agents (n=5, 41.6%), methotrexate (n=3, 25%), sulfasalazine (n=2, 16.6%), noramidopyrine (n=1) and dapsone (n=1). Main clinical features included infectious disorders in 9 cases (75%) with 4 cases of septicemia (33.3%) and 2 cases of septic shock (16.6%). The mean neutrophils count was 0.132 x 10(9)/L (range, 0-0.4). Outcome was favorable in 11 patients (91.6%). One patient died of septic complications.

Conclusion: in rheumatology, drug-induced agranulocytosis is a rare but life-threatening disorder.