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Treatment of sulphasalazine‐induced agranulocytosis with granulocyte macrophage‐colony stimulating factor
Author(s) -
RODDIE P.,
DORRANCE H.,
COOK M. K.,
RAINEY J. B.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.1995.tb00443.x
Subject(s) - medicine , granulocyte , immunology , granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor , macrophage , sulfasalazine , granulocyte colony stimulating factor , chemotherapy , cytokine , biology , disease , ulcerative colitis , biochemistry , in vitro
SUMMARY 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.