Silent existence of eosinopenia in sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a life-threatening and time-critical medical emergency; therefore, the early diagnosis of sepsis is essential to timely treatment and favorable outcomes for patients susceptible to sepsis. Eosinopenia has been identified as a potential biomarker of sepsis in the past decade. However, its clinical application progress is slow and its recognition is low. Recent studies have again focused on the potential association between Eosinopenia and severe infections. This study analyzed the efficacy of Eosinopenia as a biomarker for diagnosis of sepsis and its correlation with pathophysiology of sepsis.

METHOD

The protocol for this meta-analysis is available in PROSPERO (CRD42020197664). We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL databases to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. Two authors performed data extraction independently. The pooled outcomes were calculated by TP (true positive), FP (false positive), FN (false negative), TN (true negative) by using bivariate meta-analysis model in STATA 14.0 software. Meanwhile, possible mechanisms of sepsis induced Eosinopenia was also analyzed.

RESULTS

Seven studies were included in the present study with a total number of 3842 subjects. The incidence of Eosinopenia based on the enrolled studies varied from 23.2 to 92.7%. For diagnosis of sepsis, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio of Eosinopenia were 0.66 (95%CI [0.53-0.77]), 0.68 (95%CI [0.56-0.79]), 2.09 (95%CI [1.44-3.02]), 0.49 (95%CI [0.34-0.71]) and 4.23 (95%CI [2.15-8.31]), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operator characteristic curve (SROC) was 0.73 (95%CI [0.68-0.76]). Meta-regression analysis revealed that no single parameter accounted for the heterogeneity of pooled outcomes. For each subgroup of different eosinopenia cutoff values (50, 40, ≤25, 100), the sensitivity was 0.61, 0.79, 0.57, 0.54, and the specificity was 0.61, 0.75, 0.83, 0.51, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that Eosinopenia has a high incidence in sepsis but has no superiority in comparison with conventional biomarkers for diagnosis of sepsis. However, eosinopenia can still be used in clinical diagnosis for sepsis as a simple, convenient, fast and inexpensive biomarker. Therefore, further large clinical trials are still needed to re-evaluate eosinopenia as a biomarker of sepsis.

Decreased miR-17-92 cluster expression level in serum and granulocytes preceding onset of antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis

PURPOSE

We aimed to determine changes in miR-17-92 cluster expression in serum and granulocytes from patients with antithyroid drug (ATD)-induced agranulocytosis.

METHODS

In this study, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect serum miR-17-92 expression levels in 20 ATD-induced agranulocytosis and 16 control patients. Importantly, dynamic changes in neutrophil counts from granulocytopenia to agranulocytosis were observed in 6 of the 20 patients. miR-17-92 expression levels in granulocytes of those six patients under the granulocytopenia condition were measured and compared with corresponding granulocyte samples after recovery. Additionally, the expression levels of these miRNAs in patients with type I or type II bone marrow characteristics were analyzed, and the correlation between miR-17-92 and serum free thyroxine level was analyzed.

RESULTS

We found that levels of miR-17-92 expression decreased in both serum and pre-agranulocytosis granulocytes from patients with ATD-induced agranulocytosis compared with those in serum and granulocytes from both recovered patients and control patients. However, no difference among patients with either type of bone marrow characteristics was observed, and no correlation between serum miR-17-92 and free thyroxine levels was found.

CONCLUSION

In ATD-induced agranulocytosis, expression of the miR-17-92 cluster is reduced in both serum and granulocytes, though this alteration does not correlate with bone marrow characteristics or thyroid function.

Risk of Clozapine-Associated Agranulocytosis and Mandatory White Blood Cell Monitoring

Objective:

To provide information for physicians and patients on which to base a decision as to whether to stop mandatory blood testing.

Data Sources:

Articles on drug-induced blood dyscrasias were identified by searches of MEDLINE (1966—September 2005) and review of their bibliographies. Novartis was asked to provide additional data on clozapine, leukopenia, agranulocytosis, and suicidality.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

Data on the chance of clozapine-induced leukopenia and agranulocytosis were combined with data about possible fatality and compared with the risks associated with other medications and with life in general.

Data Synthesis:

The chance of clozapine-induced leukopenia or agranulocytosis decreases exponentially over time. In the US, the chance in the second 6 months of treatment is 0.70/1000 patient-years and, after the first year, 0.39/1000 patient-years. The case fatality rate of clozapine-induced agranulocytosis is estimated as 4.2–16%, depending on whether a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is used. Nevertheless, treatment with clozapine reduces overall mortality, probably because it reduces suicidality.

Conclusions:

After at least 6 months' treatment with clozapine, the mortality involved in stopping white blood cell monitoring is about the same as the mortality associated with other medications, such as mianserin or phenylbutazone, and with life in general (traffic or occupational accident). If the patient has been well informed and wishes to stop the monitoring, it is a medically justifiable option to do so and is preferable to stopping treatment with clozapine since this drug reduces overall mortality.

[Therapy with high-doses of antithrombin III in patients with septic shock and agranulocytosis]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to assess efficacy of high-doses ofantithrombin 111 (AT) for treatment of septic shock in patients with an agranulocytosis.

DESIGN

Prospective, controlled study.

PATIENTS

29 patients from 18 to 74 years old, with blood diseases complicated with septic shock Dates of study: from 2006 to 2012.

METHODS

The patients were randomized into two groups. Group-1 included 14 patients, who did not receive AT and group-2 included 15 patients who received AT.

RESULTS

Demographic indicators, condition severity according to APACHE II, level of thrombocytopenia, levels ofplasma procalcitonin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were the same in both groups. Level of AT was decreased in both groups; however it was higher in the group-1 (50% vs. 60%, p < 0.05). In the group-1, microorganisms were found in the blood of 9 patients. In the group-2, the microorganisms were found in the blood of 11 patients. Inflammation markers were decreased after the treatment of septic shock in both groups (p<0.05). The decreasing of procalcitonin in group-1 was from 43.8 to 1 ng/ml in 14 days and from 12.8 to 1.6 ng/ml in 7 days in group-2. The decreasing of CRP in group-1 was from 224 to 114 mg/l in 7 days and from 146 to 60 mg/l in 14 days in group-2. The decreasing of IL-6 in group-1 was from 1617 to 100 pg/ml in 3 days and from 5895 to 77 pg/ml in 7 days in group-2. A level of AT was increased only in group-2 (under 12% per day). 28-day survival was higher in group-2 (60 +/- 13% vs. 45 +/- 13%, p<0.05). We did not find any complications of the treatment with AT concentrate.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of septic shock with high-doses of antithrombin III was effective and safe in patients with an agranulocytosis.

Characteristics of agranulocytosis as an adverse effect of antithyroid drugs in the second or later course of treatment

BACKGROUND

Agranulocytosis is a serious adverse effect of antithyroid drugs (ATDs) and mainly develops within three months after the start of uninterrupted ATD treatment. Agranulocytosis can also develop for the first time after interruption and subsequent resumption of the same ATD treatment. However, little is known with regard to agranulocytosis that develops after resumption of the same ATD treatment.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the characteristics of patients who developed agranulocytosis during their second or later course of ATD treatment.

METHODS

A total of 81 patients at our hospital were diagnosed with ATD-induced agranulocytosis. In 14 of the cases (methimazole (MMI), n=10; propylthiouracil (PTU), n=4), the agranulocytosis developed for the first time in the context of the second or later course of treatment with the same ATD; those patients were designated the "resumed group." The 35 patients (MMI, n=28; PTU, n=7) who developed agranulocytosis during their first uninterrupted course of ATD therapy were designated the "first group."

RESULTS

The median total duration of ATD treatment before the diagnosis of agranulocytosis was 559 days (range 86-1775 days), and the median interval between the final day of the previous course and the first day of the course in which agranulocytosis was diagnosed was 916.5 days (range 153-8110 days). There were no cases in which agranulocytosis developed when treatment with the same ATD was resumed after discontinuation for less than five months. The difference between the start of ATD treatment in the course in which agranulocytosis was diagnosed and the time interval at which agranulocytosis was diagnosed was similar when comparing the first group and the resumed group (39 (20-98) days in the first group vs. 32.5 (21-95) days in the resumed group; n.s.). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of granulocyte count at the time agranulocytosis was diagnosed, mortality rate, or the interval between the diagnosis of agranulocytosis and recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

When ATD treatment is resumed, patient follow-up is essential in order to monitor for the development of agranulocytosis.

Analysis of 754 cases of antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis over 30 years in Japan

BACKGROUND

Agranulocytosis is a rare but serious complication of antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy. Characteristics of agranulocytosis have been reported in only a small number of patients.

METHOD

We studied 754 cases of ATD-induced agranulocytosis reported over 30 years. The age distribution and sex ratio were compared with those in 12 503 untreated Graves' patients at Kuma Hospital. The annual number of new Graves' patients in Japan was estimated from the Japan Medical Data Center Data Mart-Pharmacovigilance health insurance receipt database.

RESULTS

Agranulocytosis developed within 90 days after starting ATD therapy in most patients (84.5%). The methimazole dose given at onset was 25.2 ± 12.8 mg/d (mean ± SD). The mean age was 43.4 ± 15.2 years, and the male to female ratio was 1:6.3. When compared with patients at Kuma Hospital, patients with agranulocytosis were older (P < .001) and more females (P < .0001). Of 211 patients with more than 1 granulocyte measurement before onset, 131 (62%) showed normal counts (>1000/μL) within 2 weeks before onset, demonstrating real sudden onset of agranulocytosis. In contrast, some of the 20 patients with more than 4 measurements showed gradual decreases in granulocyte counts. Analysis of physician reports for 30 fatal cases revealed that some deaths might have been prevented. The number of new Graves' patients treated with ATD was estimated at about 35 000 per year, and the incidence rate of agranulocytosis was 0.1% to 0.15% in Japan.

CONCLUSION

This is the largest study of agranulocytosis. Agranulocytosis tends to occur abruptly within 3 months after initiation of ATD therapy, although it develops gradually in some patients. Providing every patient with sufficient information on agranulocytosis is critical.

[Fibrinolysis system in patients with sepsis in state of myelotoxic agranulocytosis]

PURPOSE

Hemostasis disorders are the part of multiple organ failure (mOF) in sepsis. This work objective is to evaluate the system parameters in septic patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

55 oncohaematological patients were included in study: 45 with sepsis and 10 patients in control group (no signs of infection). Septic patients were subdivided into septic patients without multiple organ failure, patient with multiple organ failure and patients with septic shock. The C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonine (pCT), interleukine-6 (IL-6) serum concentration and fibrinolysis parameters were measured Patients were examined daily during first 5 days, later once a week during 28 days, control group was examined one time.

RESULTS

Levels of CRP IL-6 and PCT were raised since 1st day. PCT and IL-6 concentrations were higher in sepsis and MOF group and septic shock group, than in sepsis without MOF group. CRP was raised in all patients. PCT went to normal at 7th day, CRP and IL-6 have started to decrease after 7th day, but both were higher than in control group. T-PA and plasmin inhibitors were comparable to control group and haven't changed significantly. Septic shock patients and patients with MOF have shown a decrease of plasminogen activity. Patients without MOF have shown an initially decreased plasminogen activity, but after 2 days it was similar to control group. PAI-I activity was increased only in septic shock and MOF groups in first days, and was similar to control group in cases of no MOF. Exended XIIa-dependent fibrinolysis time in average was present in all septic patients since 1st day, and extended twice in MOF and septic shock groups. Clot lysis time tended to decrease starting from 8th day, but it was longer than in control group till 28th day. A raised D-dimer concentration compared to control group was present in 75% of patients, but no difference was found among subgroups. A raised D-dimer serum concentration was relevant for prognosis.

CONCLUSION

The most sensitive diagnostic test in sepsis is XIIa-dependent fibrinolysis. Plasminogen and PAI-I activity changes are mostly present inpatient with MOF and septic shock. The 28-day survival rate was 60% in MOF and septic shock groups and 95% in no MOF groups. A raised D-dimer concentration was found in 75% of septic patients.

Agranulocytosis immediately after oral administration of cibenzoline and dabigatran in a patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

This case report describes agranulocytosis immediately after oral administration of cibenzoline and dabigatran in a 70-year-old woman with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). No blasts were found in peripheral blood and bone marrow, and the white blood cell count increased abruptly by intravenous administration of granulocyte colony-stimulation factor, suggesting an allergic response caused by cibenzoline or dabigatran, or both. Though antiarrhythmic drugs with anticoagulation therapy are commonly used to treat paroxysmal AF, caution has to be paid to drug-induced agranulocytosis.

[A case study; ethnicity and clozapine, a risky combination?]

Agranulocytosis is a very serious side-effect of treatment with clozapine. For this reason, the Dutch guidelines state the specific values of leukocyte and neutrophil counts at which treatment with clozapine should be discontinued. We focus on a patient with a benign ethnic neutropenia who, despite a low neutrophil count, was allowed to continue taking clozapine. We discuss a number of important practical considerations that can affect the way in which leukocyte and neutrophil counts are interpreted in relation to the use of clozapine.

Can we prevent blood dyscrasia (leucopenia, thrombocytopenia) and epileptic seizures induced by clozapine

Clozapine is associated with various haematological adverse effects, including leukopenia, neutropenia, agarnulocytosis, leukocytosis, anaemia, eosinophilia, thrombocytopenia and thrombocythaemia. Recognition and treatment of clozapine-related seizures also will become increasingly important as clozapine use grows in the 1990s. The decision to stop clozapine as a result of haematological adverse effects or seizures is a frustrating one for the clinician, and frequently disastrous for the patient. Cessation of treatment results in relapse. In case that patient is unresponsive to other antipsychotic, restarting clozapine should be consider, despite the risk involved. As the risk of a second agranulocytosis is much higher in those patients, various methods of militating against repeat blood dyscrasias have been treated, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and lithium. The decision to restart clozapine should be taken on case-by-case basis and should take into account the likely risks and benefits of restarting. Prior response to clozapine and magnitude of patient deterioration on stopping treatment are important factors to take into this consideration. Clozapine-related seizures did not preclude successful treatment with clozapine. A strategy that has been proposed to reduce the occurrence of seizures is the addition of an anticonvulsant agent. However, clozapine does induce a variety of adverse effects, most of which are of limited duration and either preventable or manageable if a number of simple clinical procedures are followed. With careful haematologyc control, the risk of agranulocytosis can be minimized and in case of clozapine related seizures recommendations include dose reduction, electroencephalogram (EEG), plasma-level monitoring and prophylactic antiepileptic treatment. Re-exposure to clozapine may rarely be attempted where there are facilities for very close and frequent monitoring.

[Clozapine screening: white bloodcell counts no longer sufficient]

Clozapine is an effective antipsychotic drug for the treatment of therapy-resistant schizophrenia. Mandatory screening of white blood cells is a safety measure for the early detection of agranulocytosis caused by treatment with clozapine. However, so far, there is no standard screening for two other potentially lethal side-effects, namely diabetic ketoacidosis and gastro-intestinal hypomotility. The current situation is weighed up on the basis of a comparison of the chances that these side-effects can occur and cause death. The conclusion is that weekly or monthly screening should be carried out for all these side-effects.

[Value of dynamic study of cytokines in serum and leukocytes in patients with acute leukemia]

A number of interleukins and iron metabolic parameters were studied in acute leukemia over time. Regulation of hemopoiesis and the cytokine network has been found to be impaired, which appears as the increased synthesis of ferritin and hepsidin by macrophages that are activated by imbalance in the cytokine network. A severe impairment of the parameters responsible for a regulatory process is shown to occur in leukemia. There is no complete normalization of these parameters during hematological remission, which is likely to lead to a further relapse of leukemic process.

Cyclic neutropenia terminating in permanent agranulocytosis

A patient with cyclic neutropenia was followed for 20 years. After 16 years she developed a permanent agranulocytosis, and lived for nearly four years without neutrophils in the peripheral blood. Neither prednisone, lithium nor leuco- and plasmapheresis had any effect on the neutrophil count.

Propafenone-induced drug fever in the absence of agranulocytosis

Propafenone is an antiarrhythmic drug used in the treatment of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Adverse reactions necessitating discontinuation of the medication are common. Propafenone-induced drug fever has not been definitively proven. We present a case report of drug fever secondary to propafenone, confirmed with rechallenge.

The evaluation of neutropenia: the use of the granulocyte mobilization test

Ten individuals with idiopathic neutropenia and similar numbers of normal and abnormal controls were tested for mobilization of their marginal granulocyte pools and bone marrow reserve by using epinephrine and hydrocortisone intravenously. Individuals with 'benign' idiopathic neutropenia appeared to have a normal response while half the abnormal controls responded poorly. It is suggested that granulocyte mobilization tests are valuable in the assessment of individuals with neutropenia.

Propylthiouracil induced C-ANCA positive agranulocytosis complicating Graves' thyrotoxicosis in pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Thionamide induced agranulocytosis is associated with the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in some patients. This poses a particular challenge when it occurs during pregnancy.

AIMS

To report a case of a 31-year-old woman with Graves' disease who presented at 11 weeks gestation with propylthiouracil induced agranulocytosis.

METHODS

After cessation of propylthiouracil the patient developed recurrent thyrotoxicosis, and underwent an elective subtotal thyroidectomy at 23 weeks gestation.

RESULTS

The patient required postoperative thyroxine replacement therapy. Subsequent pregnancy was uneventful and she delivered a healthy baby boy at 41 weeks gestation. As part of our routine work up for agranulocytosis we measured C-ANCA levels, which were significantly elevated.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the association of propylthiouracil induced ANCA positivity and agranulocytosis. Second trimester subtotal thyroidectomy was safe and effective in treating this pregnant patient's thyrotoxicosis.

High clozapine concentrations in leukocytes in a patient who developed leukocytopenia

Up to now direct toxic effects or immunological processes have been said to explain clozapine-induced agranulocytosis. However, more recent studies may suggest that not yet metabolized clozapine is taken up by leukocytes and transformed by oxidative processes to apoptosis-inducing metabolites. To verify this hypothesis the concentrations of clozapine were measured in the plasma and the leukocytes of a patient receiving clozapine who developed clozapine-induced leukocytopenia and in 10 patients receiving clozapine who did not show any serious adverse side effects. The patient who developed leukocytopenia showed clozapine concentrations in the leukocytes that were about 8 times higher than the mean clozapine concentrations in the leukocytes in the group of 10 patients receiving clozapine with no changes in the leukocyte count in the history. However, no major difference was found in the clozapine plasma concentrations. The results may suggest that patients at risk of developing clozapine-induced leukocytopenia show increased clozapine concentrations in the leukocytes although the clozapine plasma concentration is in the therapeutic range. It is assumed that changes or abnormalities of clozapine uptake at the cell membrane might play a role in the development of clozapine-induced leukocytopenia and/or agranulocytosis.

Systematic review: agranulocytosis induced by nonchemotherapy drugs

BACKGROUND

Nonchemotherapy drug-induced agranulocytosis is a rare adverse reaction that is characterized by a decrease in peripheral neutrophil count to less than 0.5 x 10(9) cells/L due to immunologic or cytotoxic mechanisms.

PURPOSE

To systematically review case reports of drugs that are definitely or probably related to agranulocytosis.

DATA SOURCES

English-language and German-language reports in MEDLINE (1966 to 2006) or EMBASE (1989 to 2006) and in bibliographies of retrieved articles.

STUDY SELECTION

Published case reports of patients with nonchemotherapy drug-induced agranulocytosis.

DATA EXTRACTION

One reviewer abstracted details about cases and assessed causality between drug intake and agranulocytosis by using World Health Organization assessment criteria.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Causality assessments of 980 reported cases of agranulocytosis were definite in 56 (6%), probable in 436 (44%), possible in 481 (49%), and unlikely in 7 (1%). A total of 125 drugs were definitely or probably related to agranulocytosis. Drugs for which more than 10 reports were available (carbimazole, clozapine, dapsone, dipyrone, methimazole, penicillin G, procainamide, propylthiouracil, rituximab, sulfasalazine, and ticlopidine) accounted for more than 50% of definite or probable reports. Proportions of fatal cases decreased between 1966 and 2006. More patients with a neutrophil count nadir less than 0.1 x 10(9) cells/L had fatal complications than did those with a neutrophil count nadir of 0.1 x 10(9) cells/L or greater (10% vs. 3%; P < 0.001). Patients treated with hematopoietic growth factors had a shorter median duration of neutropenia (8 days vs. 9 days; P = 0.015) and, among asymptomatic patients at diagnosis, had a lower proportion of infectious or fatal complications (14% vs. 29%; P = 0.030) than patients without such treatment.

LIMITATIONS

Case reports cannot provide rates of drug-induced complications, sometimes incompletely assess or describe important details, and sometimes emphasize atypical features and outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Many drugs can cause nonchemotherapy drug-induced agranulocytosis. Case fatality may be decreasing over time with the availability of better treatment.

Pure white cell aplasia: report of the first case associated with primary biliary cirrhosis

Pure white cell aplasia (PWCA) is a rare hematologic disorder characterized by agranulocytosis, a lack of virtually all neutrophil-lineage cells (from neutrophils to myeloblasts) in the bone marrow, and normal erythropoiesis and megakaryocy-topoiesis. We report the first case of PWCA that developed in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). An 83-year-old woman, who had had an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level and shown positivity for serum antimitochondrial antibodies for 10 years, was referred to us because of a perianal abscess. She had severe neutropenia, and her bone marrow showed typical findings of PWCA. Although methylprednisolone pulse therapy induced complete neutrophil recovery, this effect was transient. She died of infection, and the autopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PBC. In vitro investigations showed that factors inhibitory to normal CD34 cell-derived granulopoiesis were present in the patient's serum.

Formation of immature neutrophil leucocytes in schizophrenic patients treated with various antipsychotic drugs: comparisons and predictions

The neutrophils of schizophrenic patients taking antipsychotic drugs were evaluated. Neutrophil immaturity was assessed by determining mean nuclear lobe number in peripheral blood smears of patients and controls. Subjects were patients medicated with typical (upenthixol (n 6), uphenazine (n 7), haloperidol (n 23), thioridazine (n 15), and triuoperazine (n 6)) or atypical (olanzapine (n 15), risperidone (n 10), and sulpiride (n 7)) antipsychotic drugs. Controls (n 58) were healthy, non-medicated clinical and academic staff. Mean lobe number was determined using light microscopy and examining 300 neutrophils per individual. For subject and control groups, means and medians of mean lobe numbers, and also mean white cell and neutrophil counts, were determined. Means for each group were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test; variances using F ratios. Mean lobe numbers of all patients were decreased compared to controls. The left shift occurring in patients medicated with haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone, thioridazine, and triuoperazine was signícantat P 0.0001; for upenthixol P 0.001, and for sulpiride P 0.05. The left shift for uphenazine was not statistically signíant. For one patient, mean lobe numbers were obtained before and after medication with olanzapine commenced, and a lowering of mean lobe number was seen. Although the coefficient of variation in the patient groups was large compared to the controls, nevertheless more than half of the patients had mean lobe numbers outside the observed range of values seen in the control population. White blood cell and neutrophil counts in patients and controls were not signiécantly different. This study demonstrated that patients taking antipsychotic drugs have immature neutrophils, but normal total white cell and neutrophil numbers. The effect was seen with both typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs, and is probably drug-induced. It is possible that mean lobe number may predict patients at risk from neutropenia or agranulocytosis, as is also suggested by an analysis of the relative numbers of literature reports of neutrophil pathology for these drugs. It is of interest that olanzapine, which has been considered a haematologically non-hazardous drug, was shown to be associated with a significant decrease in mean lobe number.

Psychotropic Medications and Leukopenia

Neutropenia and/or agranulocytosis are among the medicinal side-effects induced by many psychotropic drugs. Clozapine and carbamazepine cause the highest incidence of this side-effect and require long-term blood cell monitoring. Bone marrow suppression can have an allergic, hypersensitivity etiology (e.g., clozapine), which mandates the causative drug discontinuation. It can also be a direct, toxic effect (e.g., carbamazepine), which calls for dosage reduction or a medication change. Other treatment options may include filgrastim, sargramostim, or lithium. Blood cell count monitoring is encouraged on patients receiving clozapine as long as the drug is continued. Such evaluation is also advised on those medicated with other psychotropics, especially carbamazepine.

Long-term patient monitoring for clozapine-induced agranulocytosis and neutropenia in Korea: when is it safe to discontinue CPMS?

OBJECTIVES

This study documents the incidences of agranulocytosis and neutropenia, and the patterns of incidence of the side effects of long-term clozapine treatment in order to determine an appropriate time to stop the Clozaril Patient Monitoring System (CPMS).

METHODS

Hematological, demographic, and other data from the CPMS for 6782 patients who took clozapine for the past 11 years in the Republic of Korea has been analyzed.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine (53.7%) of fifty-four agranulocytosis cases occurred within the first 18 weeks. The cumulative incidence of agranulocytosis was 1.64% between 6 and 11 years and the crude incidence was 0.8%. Neutropenia occurred in 697 patients, and 365 (52.4%) of these cases occurred within the first 18 weeks. The cumulative incidence of neutropenia was 19.8% between 8 and 11 years, and the crude incidence was 10.3%. There were no cases of agranulocytosis or neutropenia after the 9th year of clozapine treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of agranulocytosis in the Republic of Korea was similar to those in the rest of the world. While agranulocytosis began several years after clozapine treatment, long-term monitoring of white blood cells is necessary. We suggest that the CPMS should be stopped or less frequently after the 9th year of treatment.

Combined therapy with deferiprone and desferrioxamine in thalassemia major

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Effective and convenient iron chelation remains one of the main targets of clinical management of thalassemia major. The combined treatment with desferrioxamine and deferiprone could have an increased chelation efficacy and sometimes allow drug doses and toxicity to be reduced and the number of days of desferrioxamine infusion to be decreased, improving compliance and quality of life.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We used combined therapy with desferrioxamine and deferiprone to treat 79 patients with severe iron overload (serum ferritin higher than 3000 ng/mL) who had low compliance with subcutaneous desferrioxamine.

RESULTS

Total therapy exposure was 201 patient-years. Three patients developed agranulocytosis and seven mild neutropenia. Other adverse effects were nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, increased concentrations of liver transaminases and joint pain. The efficacy of combined therapy was evaluated in 64 patients treated for at least 12 months. Ferritin decreased from 5243+/-2345 to 3439+/-2446 ng/mL, p<0.001). Mean urinary iron excretion during combined therapy was double that with desferrioxamine or deferiprone monotherapy. In 20 patients receiving heart therapy at baseline, left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 48.6+/-9% to 57+/-6% (p=0.0001) over 12 to 57 months, without modifying the cardiac treatment.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

Continuous deferiprone treatment with intermittent administration of subcutaneous desferrioxamine is a practical and effective procedure to decrease severe iron overload in patients with thalassemia major. This study also shows that the combined therapy is associated with an improvement in heart function.

Drug-induced agranulocytosis: impact of different fcgamma receptor polymorphisms?

Drug-induced agranulocytosis is a rare but life-threatening side effect which is possibly based on immunogenetic mechanisms. Some studies regarding agranulocytosis induced by the atypical antipsychotic clozapine dealing with HLA subtyping and enzyme polymorphisms have been performed to elucidate its genetic background. To further screen possibly genetically based pathways of developing agranulocytosis, we assessed clinically relevant polymorphisms of immunoglobulin G or Fcgamma receptors in patients with clozapine-induced (n = 48), ticlopidine-induced (n = 11), thyroid inhibitors-induced agranulocytosis (n = 8), and controls (n = 75). We found significant age-related effects in each of the drug-induced agranulocytoses but no further associations that underline an effect of polymorphisms in FcgammaRIIa, FcgammaRIIIa, and FcgammaRIIIb genes on drug-induced agranulocytosis. Thus, Fcgamma receptors may not serve as a genetic marker to identify patients at risk for this life-threatening side effect.

A comparison of the defective granulopoiesis in childhood cyclic neutropenia and in severe congenital neutropenia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Cyclic neutropenia (CyN) in childhood and severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) are congenital disorders that cause chronic neutropenia. Mutations in the neutrophil elastase gene, ELA2, have been reported in patients with CyN and in those with SCN. We examined granulopoietic defects in CyN patients with those in SCN patients.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Three patients with CyN and four with SCN were enrolled in this study. Bone marrow cells were enriched based on the expression of CD34, Kit, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR). The purified cells were assayed for colony formation, proliferation, and mRNA expression of granular enzymes.

RESULTS

All patients showed heterozygous mutations of ELA2. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated no differences in the frequency of CD34, Kit, and G-CSFR expression between CyN patients and normal subjects. Significant differences in granulocyte/macrophage (GM)-colony formation of CD34(+)/Kit(+) cells were observed among CyN patients, SCN patients, and normal subjects in response to hematopoietic factors. Impaired granulopoiesis was found in both CD34(+)/Kit(+)/G-CSFR(+) and CD34(+)/Kit(+)/G-CSFR- cells in patients with CyN, whereas this impairment was observed only in CD34(+)/Kit(+)/G-CSFR(+) cells in SCN patients, as previously reported. The mRNA expression of granular enzymes in myeloid precursors and the transcription levels during myeloid cell differentiation in CyN patients were comparable to those in normal subjects, in contrast to the abnormal transcription of granular enzymes in SCN patients.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the underlying granulopoietic abnormalities differ between CyN and SCN, and emphasize the presence of additional genetic pathophysiology specific to each disease.

Blutbildveränderungen unter Antipsychotika der zweiten Generation

The danger of severe haematological abnormalities limits the use of clozapine in the treatment of psychoses. The development of modern second generation antipsychotics such as olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, amisulpride, ziprasidone or aripiprazol, however, makes it possible to use the positive effects of this class of drugs without the risks of a clozapine treatment. Nevertheless, there are several case reports about severe haematological abnormalities even during treatment with these second generation antipsychotics. This review summarises recently published cases and discusses the consequences for the daily clinical work.

Population-Based Drug-Induced Agranulocytosis

BACKGROUND

Since the publication of a major international case-control study on the risk of agranulocytosis associated with the use of medicines in the 1980s, many new drugs have been introduced in therapeutics.

METHODS

Seventeen units of hematology contribute to the case-control surveillance of agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia in Barcelona, Spain. After a follow-up of 78.73 million person-years, 177 community cases of agranulocytosis were compared with 586 sex-, age, and hospital-matched control subjects with regard to previous use of medicines.

RESULTS

The annual incidence of community-acquired agranulocytosis was 3.46:1 million, and it increased with age. The fatality rate was 7.0%, and the mortality rate was 0.24:1 million. The drug most strongly associated with a risk of agranulocytosis was ticlopidine hydrochloride with an odds ratio (OR) of 103.23 (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.73-837.44), followed by calcium dobesilate (OR, 77.84 [95% CI, 4.50-1346.20]), antithyroid drugs (OR, 52.75 [95% CI, 5.82-478.03]), dipyrone (metamizole sodium and metamizole magnesium) (OR, 25.76 [95% CI, 8.39-179.12]), and spironolactone (OR, 19.97 [95% CI, 2.27-175.89]). Other drugs associated with a significant risk were pyrithyldione, cinepazide, aprindine hydrochloride, carbamazepine, sulfonamides, phenytoin and phenytoin sodium, beta-lactam antibiotics, erythromycin stearate and erythromycin ethylsuccinate, and diclofenac sodium. Individual attributable incidences for all these drugs, which collectively accounted for 68.6% of cases, were less than 1:1 million per year.

CONCLUSIONS

Agranulocytosis is rare but serious. A few drugs account for two thirds of the cases. Our results also provide reassurance regarding the risk associated with a number of newly marketed drugs.

Antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis: special reference to normal white blood cell count agranulocytosis

This retrospective study was aimed at revealing the incidence of normal white blood cell (WBC) count agranulocytosis in patients treated with antithyroid drugs (ATDs). From January 1975 to December 2001, 109 patients (0.35%) presented with ATD-induced agranulocytosis at our clinic. In 18 patients (16.5%), the WBC count exceeded 3.0 x 10(9)/L at the onset of agranulocytosis. Ten showed a downward trend in WBC count (3.0-3.9 x 10(9)/L) after the initiation of ATDs. Four had symptoms of infection. In the remaining 4 patients, routine WBC and granulocyte count monitoring detected an agranulocytosis. During the first 3 months of ATD treatment, 3347 patients (10.9%) had WBC count 3.0-3.9 x 10(9)/L even once with no symptom and normal granulocyte count and 26672 patients had WBC count >or= 4.0 x 10(9)/L with no symptom and normal granulocyte count. When agranulocytosis was found, twelve patients with normal WBC count agranulocytosis (0.36%) had WBC count 3.0-3.9 x 10(9)/L with no symptom, whereas only 2 patients with agranulocytosis (0.008%) had WBC count >or= 4.0 x 10(9)/L with no symptom. In conclusion, clinicians should take normal WBC count agranulocytosis into consideration at least during the first 3 months of antithyroid drug therapy, especially when WBC count is 3.0-3.9 x 10(9)/L.

A phase I study of 9-aminocamptothecin as a colloidal dispersion formulation given as a fortnightly 72-h infusion

PURPOSE

A phase I pharmacologic study was undertaken to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile, and to evaluate all toxicities of the aqueous colloidal dispersion formulation of 9-aminocampothecin (9-AC).

METHODS

9-AC was administered as a constant 72-h i.v. infusion every 2 weeks to adult cancer patients at dose rates ranging from 25 to 59 microg/m2 per hour.

RESULTS

Twenty patients with refractory solid tumors received a total of 86 courses of 9-AC at four dose levels. Myelosuppression, particularly granulocytopenia, was the most common toxicity. Two of six assessable patients entered at 59 microg/m2 per hour had dose-limiting toxicity (grade 3 diarrhea or need for a 2-week treatment delay to permit granulocyte recovery), whereas lower doses were well tolerated. At the recommended dose, 47 microg/m2 per hour, the average steady-state plasma levels (Cpss) and area under the curve (AUC) of 9-AC lactone and total drug were 15 and 75 nM, and 1034 and 4220 nM.h, respectively. A moderate correlation was seen between 9-AC lactone AUC and the percentage decrease in granulocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

The recommended phase II dose of 9-AC colloidal dispersion as a 72-h infusion every 14 days is 47 microg/m2 per hour (1.13 mg/m2 per day). The Cpss of 9-AC lactone at this dose exceeded the 10 nM threshold level for preclinical activity.

Risk of clinical blood dyscrasia in a cohort of antibiotic users

Blood dyscrasias, although rare, can be fatal. Many drugs, including antibiotics, are associated with these dyscrasias. We conducted a cohort study with a nested case-control analysis using data from the General Practice Research Database to estimate incidence rates of clinical blood dyscrasias in the general population and to examine their association with use of antibiotic drugs. The study population consisted of patients aged 5-69 years receiving at least one antibiotic prescription from January 1994-September 1998. The final cohort consisted of 822,048 persons who received 1,507,307 antibiotic prescriptions during the study period. The main outcome measure was a diagnosis of neutropenia, agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, bicytopenia, pancytopenia, or aplastic anemia. We confirmed 122 patients who developed clinical blood dyscrasias. The incidence was 3.3/100,000 person-years in the general population. Patients older than 60 years (relative risk [RR] 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-5.0) and those who took phenothiazines (RR 49.0, 95% CI 4.9-488.2) had an increased risk of blood dyscrasia. Users of antibiotics had an RR of 4.4 (95% CI 2.6-7.5), and patients taking more than one class of antibiotics had an RR of 29.1 (95% CI 9.1-92.8). Among individual antibiotic classes, the greatest risk was with cephalosporins (RR 13.8, 95% CI 3.6-52.6). Although uncommon, our study supports an association between blood dyscrasias and antibiotics.

Agranulocytosis during clozapine therapy

Granulocytopenia and agranulocytosis are considered among the most dangerous adverse effects of clozapine. During the last 15-year period, this atypical antipsychotic agent has been administered to 750 patients managed at the Emergency Psychiatry Services and Clinical Pharmacology Unit of the National Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology (NIPandN; Budapest, Hungary). Granulocytopenia was ascertained in seven, whereas agranulocytosis was diagnosed in two patients of this population. The latter two comprised a 42-year-old female with schizoaffective psychosis and a 35-year-old male with paranoid schizophrenia. The female patient received clozapine in a daily dose of 400 mg, which induced agranulocytosis after 2 months. The male patient was treated with 225-mg/day clozapine and the time to the diagnosis of agranulocytosis was 6 weeks. These adverse reactions were recognized early and the appropriate treatment of agranulocytosis resulted in complete recovery in both cases.

Olanzapine-induced agranulocytosis: a case report and review of the literature

The novel antipsychotic olanzapine has structural and pharmacological properties similar to clozapine. Until recently, no haematological toxicity has been reported with olanzapine use and it was expected to be a safer alternative. The authors report a case of agranulocytosis induced by olanzapine and reviewed the 11 cases reported in the literature.

Agranulocytosis associated with initiation of famotidine therapy

OBJECTIVE

To report a case of agranulocytosis associated with initiation of famotidine.

CASE SUMMARY

An 87-year-old white man was admitted to the internal medicine department of an acute care hospital because of fever and agranulocytosis (granulocyte count 0). Eight days prior to admission, famotidine therapy had been initiated. Famotidine was discontinued and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor was administered, with concomitant recovery of the granulocyte count and subsequent development of a leukemoid reaction.

DISCUSSION

According to the Naranjo probability scale, famotidine was the probable cause of agranulocytosis. This is a rare adverse effect of this medication; only a few other cases have been reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Although agranulocytosis is a rare adverse effect of famotidine, the pharmacist and physician should be aware of this potentially fatal event. If any patient treated with famotidine develops fever, the clinician should consider, among other things, performing a white blood cell count.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor plasma levels during clozapine- and olanzapine-induced granulocytopenia

OBJECTIVE

Recent case studies suggest that impaired granulopoiesis, well-known to occur during clozapine treatment, may also be observed when olanzapine is administered. The underlying mechanisms are unknown, but haematopoietic cytokines such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) are likely to be involved.

METHOD

We measured the plasma levels of G-CSF and of other cytokines longitudinally in a female patient who developed granulocytopenia twice, first during clozapine treatment and again when olanzapine was administered.

RESULTS

G-CSF levels, but not those of other cytokines, closely paralleled granulocyte counts, yielding a significant positive correlation. G-CSF was not detectable in plasma when granulocytopenia occurred. Granulocytopenia resolved spontaneously despite continuing treatment with olanzapine.

CONCLUSION

The present case suggests that clozapine and olanzapine both are able to induce transient granulocytopenia through a similar or common mechanism that does not involve a compensatory increase in G-CSF levels.

Reversible granulocytopenia in association with riluzole therapy

OBJECTIVE

To report a case of severe neutropenia developing in association with riluzole 200 mg/d.

CASE SUMMARY

A 63-year-old woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presented with nausea, anorexia, and fever two weeks following inadvertent dose escalation of riluzole from 100 to 200 mg/d. Granulocytopenia was diagnosed and evaluation for a possible causative infectious process was negative; riluzole was considered a possible offender. Blood counts returned to normal with discontinuation of riluzole and administration of filgramstim.

DISCUSSION

Riluzole is a glutamate release inhibitor used in the treatment of ALS, a devastating, progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor neurons. A variety of adverse effects have been described with riluzole therapy, most commonly dizziness and gastrointestinal disorders. In this patient, multiple investigations failed to reveal an infectious cause or other drug-induced cause for the granulocytopenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Granulocytopenia has been reported as an adverse effect of riluzole but is not a complication well known to clinicians, and there are no detailed reports published in the literature. In this patient, several lines of evidence raise the possibility of a causal relationship between riluzole and granulocytopenia.

Polymorphisms of NAT2 in relation to sulphasalazine-induced agranulocytosis

Agranulocytosis is a rare, but serious adverse reaction to sulphasalazine. The polymorphic enzyme N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) plays an important role in the metabolism of sulphasalazine. This study was conducted to analyse whether the risk of sulphasalazine-induced agranulocytosis is increased in slow acetylators. Patients were treated for inflammatory disease, mostly joint disease, with a mean dose of 2 g sulphasalazine daily. Thirty-nine patients reacted with agranulocytosis, while 75 patients had been treated for a minimum of 3 months without haematological side-effects. A population-based control panel of 448 individuals was used for comparison. All subjects were genotyped for NAT2 by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction enzyme digestion. The six most common allelic variants were analysed: NAT2*4, NAT2*5A, NAT2*5B, NAT2*5C, NAT2*6 and NAT2*7. The proportion of slow acetylators was significantly higher in patients with sulphasalazine-induced agranulocytosis (69%) and population-based controls (64%) compared to patients who tolerated sulphasalazine (45%); odds ratio 2.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20; 6.15], P = 0.015, and odds ratio 2.17 (95% CI 1.32; 3.56), P = 0.002, respectively. Patients who developed agranulocytosis did not differ from population-based control subjects in the frequency of slow acetylators; odds ratio 1.25 (95% CI 0.62; 2.53), P = 0.535. The risk of agranulocytosis did not appear to be increased in slow acetylators, provided that the difference compared with sulphasalazine-treated control subjects was not due to a predominance of fast acetylators among patients with inflammatory joint disease. Instead, selection bias was suspected since more slow acetylators may have discontinued sulphasalazine therapy because of drug-intolerance.