Methyprylon-induced bone marrow suppression in siblings. An inherited defect?

G. D. McLaren, M. A. Doukas and W. A. Muir

Transient bone marrow suppression in two sisters followed ingestion of the sedative-hypnotic drug methyprylon. No other pharmacologic or environmental inciting factor common to both patients was identified. The mechanisms responsible could not be defined; abnormal suppression fo granulocyte progenitors by the drug in vitro was not demonstrable. It is postulated that a pharmacogenetic interaction may have been responsible for methyprylon-related bone marrow suppression in these two siblings.