EOSINOPHILIA ASSOCIATED WITH BUPROPION

OBJECTIVE: To describe the first incidence of eosinophilia following a dministration of bupropion. CASE SUMMARY: The patient was a 72-year-ol d woman admitted for evaluation of chest pain. During hospitalization, the eosinophil count reached 0.60 fraction of 1.00, with absolute eos inophil count of 6693 x 10(6)/L. and a white blood cell count of 18.5 x 10(9)/L. She had been receiving bupropion therapy for 5 days prior t o this admission. DISCUSSION: Potential causes of the eosinophilia, in cluding disease states and medications, were reviewed comprehensively and ruled out. A review of the literature (MEDLINE 1966-1994) did not identify previous cases of eosinophilia associated with bupropion ther apy, Causes of eosinophilia include parasitic infections, allergic dis eases, and medication use. A proposed mechanism for the occurrence of eosinophilia in this patient is unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the temporal sequence of events, drugs administered prior to the developme nt of eosinophilia, and the rapid decline of the eosinophil count foll owing discontinuation of the medication, bupropion appears to be the p recipitating agent.