Drug‐Induced Neutropenia in the Stockholm Region 1973‐75: Frequency and Causes

Abstract

The records of 133 patients, discharged with a diagnosis of agranulocytosis (i.e., blood neutrophil levels < 1.0 .times. 109/l) during the years 1973-1975 in the Stockholm county region, were reviewed. In 45 cases the neutropenia was probably caused by drugs other than cytostatics, giving an annual incidence of drug-induced neutropenia of 0.01.permill.. The most common drugs were thenalidine, sulfonamides and thyreostatics. Only one of the 45 patients died during the neutropenic phase. The pattern of drugs causing neutropenia has apparently changed in Sweden compared with studies from the latter half of the l960s, and only about 40% of the cases have been reported to the authorities.