Toxicity of Carbutamide

Abstract

SINCE 1954 the hypoglycemic sulfonamide, carbutamide (l-butyl-3-sulfanilylurea)∥ has been undergoing extensive clinical trial in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In preliminary reports of these studies, few toxic reactions were described.1 2 3 These included several cases of drug fever and rash that cleared promptly on discontinuance of the drug. A case of hepatitis that occurred in Germany concomitant with the administration of carbutamide was believed to be on an infectious basis. In more recent reports, Ridolfo and Kirtley4 and Kinsell5 have described cases of progressive leukopenia that necessitated termination of therapy.In our series of 48 cases side reactions were considerably more . . .