title: Treatment of sulphasalazine-induced agranulocytosis with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor.
abstract: Sulphasalazine-induced agranulocytosis is a rare but potentially life threatening complication. A variable mortality rate has been reported, from 6% to 20%, and is related to the duration of neutropenia. Previous case reports have shown that the use of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in treating drug-induced agranulocytosis may shorten the period of neutropenia and hence lead to improved survival. It may also be a less costly treatment option that supportive care alone due to reduction of hospital stay as a consequence of a shortened duration of neutropenia. We report a case in which sulphasalazine had been used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and the subsequent agranulocytosis was treated successfully with GM-CSF, something which has hitherto been unreported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, St John's Hospital, Livingston.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roddie
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dorrance
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Rainey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor