Hospitalization for serious blood and skin disorders following co-trimoxazole.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the risk of serious blood and skin disorders requiring hospitalization among otherwise healthy users of co-trimoxazole.


METHODS
We conducted a population-based cohort study at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound (GHC).


RESULTS
During the years 1987 to 1993 we found six cases of co-trimoxazole-associated blood disorders and three cases of co-trimoxazole-associated skin disorders yielding risks of 5.6/100,000 (95% CI 2.6-12.2) and 2.8/100,000 (95% CI 0.9-8.2) respectively. In all cases found there was prompt recovery after discontinuation of co-trimoxazole. We found no cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the risk of blood and skin disorders associated with the use of co-trimoxazole leading to hospitalization is low.
Myers
M W
MW
Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program, Boston University Medical Center, Lexington, MA, USA.
Jick
H
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination