Agranulocytosis associated with initiation of famotidine therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of agranulocytosis associated with initiation of famotidine.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Marcus
Esther-Lee
EL
Acute Geriatric Department, Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. elm@inter.net.il
Clarfield
A Mark
AM
Kleinman
Yosef
Y
Bits
Helena
H
Darmon
David
D
Da'as
Nael
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000188:drug therapy; D015738:Famotidine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D015738:Famotidine