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Multiple complications of propylthiouracil treatment: granulocytopenia, eosinophilia, skin reaction and hepatitis with lymphocyte sensitization

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Abstract

An association of granulocytopenia, eosinophilia, skin reaction and hepatitis during propylthiouracil (PTU) therapy for thyrotoxicosis in a 47 year old black female is reported. Clinical and biochemical abnormalities disappeared soon after discontinuation of PTU. That the drug was directly responsible for the observed complications is suggested by the clinical course and by in vitro lymphocyte transformation studies. The latter revealed sensitization to PTU during the acute phase of the disease, which was greatly reduced 5 weeks after discontinuation of the drug and was completely absent after 5 months. 1 Supported in part by U.S. Public Service Grants AM 15070 and RR 55.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cattedra di Patologia Medica 2, Università di Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy

    F. Pacini M.D.

  2. Thyroid Study Unit, University of Chicago, 950 E. 59th Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA

    F. Pacini M.D., V. Sridama & S. Refetoff

Authors
  1. F. Pacini M.D.
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  2. V. Sridama
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  3. S. Refetoff
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Supported in part by U.S. Public Service Grants AM 15070 and RR 55.

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Pacini, F., Sridama, V. & Refetoff, S. Multiple complications of propylthiouracil treatment: granulocytopenia, eosinophilia, skin reaction and hepatitis with lymphocyte sensitization. J Endocrinol Invest 5, 403–407 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03350541

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03350541

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