AGRANULOCYTOSIS DURING THERAPY WITH THE ANTIHISTAMINIC AGENT METHAPHENILENE (DIATRIN®)

Abstract

In March 1945 Clement and Godlewski¹reported a case of agranulocytosis in a girl 13 1/2 years of age with asthma after she received three weeks of treatment with a synthetic anti-histaminic agent 2339 RP (N-benzyl-N-phenyl-N',N'-dimethylethylenediamine hydrochloride). Blanton and Owens²have reported a similar case following eight weeks of therapy with tripelennamine hydrochloride (pyribenzamine hydrochloride,® or N,N-dimethyl-N'-benzyl-N'-[alpha-pyridyl] ethylenediamine hydrochloride). The present report concerns the occurrence of agranulocytosis in a man aged 81 after he received seven weeks of treatment with methaphenilene hydrochloride (diatrin hydrochloride,® or N,N-dimethyl-N'-phenyl-N'-[2-thenyl] ethylenediamine hydrochloride)—a homolog of tripelennamine hydrochloride. <h3>REPORT OF CASE</h3> J. M., a man aged 81; a retired grocer, had been seen intermittently since May 21, 1946 because of chronic bronchitis. The nasal mucosa was hypertrophic and varied from a pale boggy appearance to a dull red. Polyps nearly blocked the left nasal fossa, and at times yellowish mucopurulent drainage could be seen