More on Penicillin-Induced Leukopenia

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Abstract
To the Editor: Corbett et al. (Dec. 23 issue)1 presented two cases of penicillin G-induced neutropenia. In 1981 we reported eight similar cases.2 The patients had been treate intravenously with a total of 220 to 550 million IU of penicillin G (132 to 330 g) before neutropenia developed. In all eight patients penicilloyl-sensitized lymphocytes and specific anti-penicilloyl antibodies of the IgG but not of the IgE class were found. These findings furnished no definite proof of an immune-mediated neutropenia, since similar, although less pronounced, results were obtained with patients who received comparable amounts of penicillin G without the development . . .