Incidence of agranulocytosis in Southwest France.
BACKGROUND
Updated knowledge of background event rates is fundamental to risk assessment.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the incidence of agranulocytosis in the general population in Southwest France.


METHODS
All definite cases of acute non-cancer drug-related agranulocytosis in subjects aged more than 16 years were systematically retrieved weekly from Medical departments or labs in the catchment area (approximately 3.5 millions inhabitants). Event rates were compared to population figures from 1999 census data, and Poisson 95% confidence intervals computed.


RESULTS
From January 1st 1997 to December 31st 1998, 87 cases of agranulocytosis were identified, 58 being validated by an independent ad hoc panel of experts. The overall annual incidence rate was 9.2 per million inhabitants (95%CI: 6.9;13.0); 7.7 (95%CI: 4.8;11.7) per million in men, and 10.5 (95%CI: 7.2; 14.8) per million in women. These rates of all-cause acute agranulocytosis can be used as expected background reference rate for specific risk assessment.
Théophile
Hélène
H
Department de Pharmacologie, EA 3676, IFR 99, Université Victor Segalen, CHU Pellegrin, Bordeaux Cedex, France.
Bégaud
Bernard
B
Martin
Karin
K
Laporte
Juan Ramon
JR
Capella
Dolores
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors