Fatal Agranulocytosis Complicating Treatment with Ethacrynic Acid
Report of a Case
- J. GEOFFREY WALKER, M.B.
- Requests for reprints should be addressed to the Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London, W.C.l, Eng.
Excerpt
Clinical and animal trials with the new diuretic ethacrynic acid (2,3-dichloro-4(2 methylene butyryl) phenoxyacetic acid) suggest that it is exceptionally potent and in some cases far superior to either the organomercurials or the benzothiadiazines (1-13). A unique mode of action on the renal tubule has been suggested (10, 14-16). Because of the drug's potency, excessive loss of water and electrolytes with the development of hypochloremic alkalosis may occur (4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13). The only true side effects so far described, however, have been occasional gastrointestinal upsets (8, 10, 11) and hyperuricemia (7, 10), and no instance of
This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract.
Acknowledgments
I am indebted to Dr. J. A. Fleming of the Pathology Department of the Royal Free Hospital for the hematological investigations and to Dr. K. L. G. Goldsmith of the Blood Group Reference Laboratory, London, for the leukocyte and platelet antibody tests.
Summario in Interlingua
Agranulocytosis mortal se disveloppava in un femina de 24 annos de etate qui suffreva de cirrhosis postnecrotic e ascites e esseva tractate con le diuretic acido ethacrynic. Le patiente habeva recipite altere agentes therapeutic in le recente passato, e tests serologic non revelava anticorpore anti leucocytos o plachettas. Le relation inter le dyscrasia sanguinee e le therapia diuretic es commentate.
Article and Author Information
-
From the Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, University of London, London, Eng.
-
This work was supported in part by a grant from the Ingram Trust, London, Eng.
-
- Received December 9, 1965.
- Accepted January 7, 1966.
Most Read
