GRANULOCYTOPENIA IN SULFAPYRIDINE THERAPY

Abstract

The recent introduction of sulfapyridine as a chemotherapeutic agent offered the possibility of successful treatment of infections caused by the pneumococcus, irrespective of its type. This drug was also found to give encouraging results in the treatment of miscellaneous other infections (streptococcic, gonococcic and others) and is consequently being used quite extensively. Whitby1and Wien,2in their animal experiments, found sulfapyridine to be less toxic than other sulfonamide preparations, and it was thought for some time that this drug would not cause any depression of the function of the bone marrow as had been observed in a number of cases of neoprontosil and sulfanilamide therapy. Several series of observations on sulfapyridine therapy in large groups of patients failed to reveal any grave drop in the number of white blood cells (Evans and Gainsford3100 cases, Rosenthal4150 cases, Anderson and Dowdeswell550 cases). The lowest