NEUTROPENIA IN A PATIENT TREATED WITH A MERCURIAL DIURETIC AND ITS RESPONSE TO BAL

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Abstract
In the case reported, a 61-yr.-old white woman, a known hypertensive for 6 yrs., was given Mercupurin, 2 cc. intraven. 3 times weekly for 38 wks., followed by the same dose daily for 14 days. On admission the white blood count was 1000/cu. mm., the differential showed polymorphonuclear 5, lymphocytes 57, monocytes 30, eosinophil 1, basophils 3, unclassified 4. A course of BAL was administered, and a count taken on the same day on which the last dose of BAL was given showed white blood count 7200/cu. mm., with polymorphonuclear 89, lymphocytes 5, monocytes 4, basophils 2. Myelograms taken on the day preceding and the day following completion of treatment strongly suggest that the mercurial was responsible for the granulocytopenia.