Thyreostaticumgeïnduceerde agranulocytose bij een 14-jarig meisje

- A 14-year-old girl with Graves’ disease developed a fever, sore throat and a severe systemic infection after being treated with antithyroid drugs for 1 year. Agranulocytosis was diagnosed. After long-term antibiotic treatment and supportive therapy she recovered. Agranulocytosis is a known side-effect of antithyroid drugs and is seen in 0.2 to 0.5 of the patients. It usually occurs within the first 3 months of treatment. Patients above the age of 40 seem to be more susceptible. Since the onset of agranulocytosis is relatively acute, routine blood monitoring is not very useful. It is more important to instruct patients who use a thyreostatic to contact their physician in case of unexplained fever or a sore throat.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2005;149:89-92