Detection and Prevention of Drug-Induced Blood Dyscrasias
- Allan J. Erslev, M.D.;
- Maxivell M. Wintrobe, M.D.
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
THE RELUCTANCE of most physicians to report cases of suspected drug-induced blood dyscrasias is due to the difficulty in establishing a definite causal relationship between drug and disease; the evidence for this in most cases is inadequate. Unfortunately, this reluctance may lead to a delay in the recognition of toxic effects of new drugs. For example, cases of suspected chloramphenicol-induced aplastic anemia were observed sporadically soon after the drug was released in 1949, but so few case reports appeared that its potential toxicity was not apparent until 3 years later. By that time 12 individual groups had accumulated 37 cases of chloramphenicol-induced aplastic anemia, enough to warrant publication of a firm, but belated, warning.
In order to prevent similar delays, the Council on Drugs of the American Medical Association established a Study Group on Blood Dyscrasias to act as a clearinghouse for all suspected cases caused by drugs and chemicals.
