Agranulocytosis After Diphenylhydantoin and Chlorothiazide Therapy

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Abstract
Since 1938, diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin) has been one of the most widely used drugs for the treatment of convulsive disorders. It is highly effective in suppressing convulsions and generally has a very low toxicity.1The principal toxic manifestations include gingival hyperplasia,2,3gastrointestinal disorders,4cutaneous reactions,5,6and central nervous system disturbances, especially of the cerebellum.7These manifestations may occur in about 15% of the patients treated.1Review of the literature and standard pharmacologic texts reveals very few reports of hematologic toxicity, with the exceptions of megaloblastic anemia9-12and lymphadenopathy sometimes associated with eosinophilia. The latter is thought to be an allergic reaction to the drug.13The following case represents an incident of fatal agranulocytosis associated with the administration of diphenylhydantoin and chlorothiazide. For reasons which will be stated later, it is felt that diphenylhydantoin was the prime offender. Report of Case A 48-year-old white