Agranulocytosis caused by Chinese herbal medicines. Dangers of medications containing aminopyrine and phenylbutazone
C. A. Ries and M. A. Sahud
Four non-Chinese patients, middle-aged or older, developed agranuloctyosis
while taking Chinese herbal medicines for relief of arthritis and back
pain. All four developed life-threatening infections with bacterial sepsis;
one died. The herbal medicines were shown to contain substantial amounts of
undeclared aminopyrine and phenylbutazone, drugs that are well-known causes
of agranulocytosis. These Chinese herbal medicines are widely available
over the counter throughout the United States.
