Document Detail


Fatality complicating agranulocytosis in the setting of carbimazole therapy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19291446     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Carbimazole is an antithyroid drug of the thionamide class which is used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Rarely, use of this drug may be associated with the development of agranulocytosis and neutropenia with the consequent risk of sepsis. We present the case of a 50-year-old female who developed rapidly progressive Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia in the setting of panycytopenia approximately 4 weeks following the commencement of carbimazole therapy for Graves' disease. She died shortly after presentation to hospital and the case was referred to the coroner as the death was unexpected and the clinical course was considered unusual. Relatively sudden, unexpected deaths resulting from hematological/endocrine causes are uncommonly encountered by forensic pathologists and this case serves to illustrate the enduring value of the autopsy in providing important clinicopathological correlation to clinicians.
Authors:
Matthew J Lynch; Noel W F Woodford
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article     Date:  2008-05-14
Journal Detail:
Title:  Forensic science, medicine, and pathology     Volume:  4     ISSN:  1547-769X     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2008  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-03-17     Completed Date:  2009-04-23     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101236111     Medline TA:  Forensic Sci Med Pathol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  246-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, 57-83 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, VIC 3006, Australia. matthewl@vifm.org
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Agranulocytosis / chemically induced*
Antithyroid Agents / administration & dosage,  adverse effects*
Carbimazole / administration & dosage,  adverse effects*
Fatal Outcome
Female
Forensic Pathology
Graves Disease / drug therapy
Humans
Middle Aged
Pancytopenia / chemically induced,  complications
Pseudomonas Infections / etiology
Sepsis / microbiology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antithyroid Agents; 22232-54-8/Carbimazole

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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