Graves' disease with neutropenia and marked splenomegaly: autoimmune neutropenia due to propylthiouracil

Abstract

A 38-year-old man with Graves' disease taking propylthiouracil (PTU) for 6 years developed neutropenia and marked splenomegaly. After subtotal thyroidectomy with discontinuance of PTU the patient remained asymptomatic for the last two and half years. The serum obtained during the period of neutropenia demonstrated opsonic activity to neutrophils of the patient as well as of normal volunteers. This opsonic antineutrophil activity was located in the IgG fraction of the serum. Furthermore, PTU at the concentration (0.1-1.0 micrograms/ml) attainable in the patient's serum significantly stimulated [3H] thymidine incorporation in the patient's lymphocytes. These findings indicate that the patient developed autoimmune neutropenia by producing opsonic antineutrophil antibodies in association with the PTU therapy.