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Studies in Drug‐Induced Megaloblastic Anaemia
Author(s) -
Chanarin I.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1964.tb00025.x
Subject(s) - megaloblastic anaemia , drug , pyrimethamine , folic acid , excretion , medicine , vitamin b12 , megaloblastic anemia , vitamin , folic acid antagonists , urinary system , endocrinology , pharmacology , immunology , chloroquine , malaria
The sequence of events in the production of megaloblastic anaemia following the administration of the drug pyrimethamine has been studied. An increase in the proportion of hypersegmented neutrophil polymorphs was found to be the most sensitive index of folic acid status. Abnormal values for urinary formiminoglutamic acid excretion and serum L. casei activity were found but these values returned to within the normal range when the dose of the antagonist was increased. The development of megaloblastic haemopoiesis was associated with a marked fall in the serum vitamin B 12 level and a rise in the serum iron level.