To formally diagnose agranulocytosis, other pathologies with a similar presentation must be excluded, such as aplastic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, myelodysplasia and leukemias.
32.
In 1988 the drug was withdrawn from the market in Spain due to risk of agranulocytosis; other countries where the drug was available added warnings to the label.
33.
These case reports suggest that the observed cases of the morning pseudoneutropenia did not proceed to become agranulocytosis which is a significant and dangerous side effect of some of antipsychotics.
34.
In agranulocytosis, the concentration of granulocytes ( a major class of white blood cells that includes neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils ) drops below 500 cells / mm?of blood.
35.
Researchers estimated that the risk of developing agranulocytosis would nearly double under a bi-weekly system and nearly triple under a monthly monitoring system begun after the first six months on therapy.
36.
Ten percent of patients report skin eruptions ( such as macules and papules ), urticaria, dermatitis, fever, and arthralgia; 0.03 % of all patients develop agranulocytosis.
37.
The Centers for Disease Control traced outbreaks of agranulocytosis among cocaine users, in the US and Canada between March 2008 and November 2009, to the presence of levamisole in the drug supply.
38.
But clozapine has been less popular than its competitors because patients who take the medication must have frequent blood tests for agranulocytosis, a blood disorder that is an infrequent but potentially fatal side effect.
39.
Levamisole used as an adulterant in cocaine has resulted in 20 confirmed or probable cases of agranulocytosis, including 2 deaths, according to an alert from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
40.
Although the reaction is generally idiosyncratic rather than proportional, experts recommend that patients using these drugs be told about the symptoms of agranulocytosis-related infection, such as a sore throat and a fever.
