Severe agranulocytosis from carbamazepine.

We describe a case of severe drug-induced agranulocytosis, with the risk of a lethal outcome in a patient with a posttraumatic tetraplegia. Intercurre nt complications required numerous medicaments. One month after admission, the neutrophil count decreased for ten days until a nadir of 70.mm(-3), ass ociated with an infectious syndrome. The bone marrow biopsy showed a severe granulocyte hypoplasia with absence of final differentiation. Administrati on of ienograstime (granulocyte stimulating factor) was efficient, In this patient, carbamazepine was the most probable causal factor for agranulocyto sis. However, other medicaments mainly antibiotics, could have been contrib uting factors. (C) 1999 Elsevier, Paris.