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Reduced Number of Peripheral Blood Granulocytes in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia during Administration of Clofazimine (B 663)
Author(s) -
BRANDT L.
Publication year - 1972
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.1600-0609.1972.tb00926.x
Subject(s) - clofazimine , medicine , drug , immunology , granulocyte , myeloid , platelet , pharmacology , chronic myeloid leukaemia , leprosy
7 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in relapse were given a daily oral dose of 100–600 mg of clofazimine, a phenazine derivative, for 4 weeks. During this period there was a significant decrease in the WBC in venous blood mainly due to a lowering of the number of mature granulocytes by about 30 %. In 4 patients the blood histamine level was determined before and during administration of the drug and proved to be lowered indicating a reduction also of basophilic leucocytes. The haemoglobin concentration and the thrombocyte counts were not significantly affected and splenomegaly seemed to be constant during the period. On continuous administration of the drug for a longer period of time the WBC tended to return towards higher values. In one patient given the drug during three separate periods, every course of treatment was associated with a lowering of the WBC. The reduction of the circulating granulocyte pool was probably not a cytotoxic effect since long‐term treatment of leprosy patients with the drug is not associated with haematologic side effects. It has previously been found that oral administration of clofazimine causes an increase of the subnormal phagocytic capacity of mature neutrophils in CML. Since phagocytic activity and adhesiveness seem to be related functions of the granulocytes, the stimulatory effect of clofazimine might increase the adhesion of neutrophils to capillary walls. Such a mechanism might possibly reduce the abnormally long time of circulation of granulocytes known to contribute to leucocytosis in CML. Apart from a moderate and reversible reddish discoloration of the skin, no side effects were observed and the response to subsequent treatment with busulphan or splenic irradiation was satisfactory.