Agranulocytosis associated with initiation of famotidine therapy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To report a case of agranulocytosis associated with initiation of famotidine.

CASE SUMMARY:

An 87-year-old white man was admitted to the internal medicine department of an acute care hospital because of fever and agranulocytosis (granulocyte count 0). Eight days prior to admission, famotidine therapy had been initiated. Famotidine was discontinued and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor was administered, with concomitant recovery of the granulocyte count and subsequent development of a leukemoid reaction.

DISCUSSION:

According to the Naranjo probability scale, famotidine was the probable cause of agranulocytosis. This is a rare adverse effect of this medication; only a few other cases have been reported.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although agranulocytosis is a rare adverse effect of famotidine, the pharmacist and physician should be aware of this potentially fatal event. If any patient treated with famotidine develops fever, the clinician should consider, among other things, performing a white blood cell count.

• Authors: Esther-Lee Marcus, A Mark Clarfield, Yosef Kleinman, Helena Bits, David Darmon, Nael Da'as
• Journal: The Annals of pharmacotherapy (Ann Pharmacother) Vol. 36 Issue 2 Pg. 267-71 (Feb 2002) ISSN: 1060-0280 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11847947 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Famotidine

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Agranulocytosis (blood, chemically induced)
• Blood Cell Count
• Dermatitis, Exfoliative (drug therapy)
• Famotidine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male