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Propafenone associated granulocytopenia in a newborn

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2008

Thomas Paul*
Affiliation:
From the Department of Pediatric CardiologyChildren’s Hospital, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany
Ingrid Luhmer
Affiliation:
From the Department of Pediatric CardiologyChildren’s Hospital, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany
Alfred Reiter
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children’s Hospital, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany
*
Dr. Thomas Paul, Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Hannover Medical School, D-30623 Hannover, FR Germany. Tel. 0049-511-5323220; Fax. 0049-511-5329038.

Abstract

Progressive granulocytopenia (neutrophil count <1000/ml) developed in a newborn during treatment with propafenone (200 mg/m2) for recurrent paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. The total white blood cell count, however, remained within normal limits. The neutrophil count increased gradually after propafenone had been stopped. The time course of treatment and the development of granulocytopenia make it very likely, but not certain, that propafenone was the responsible agent. Pediatricians, and especially pediatric cardiologists, should be aware of this rare adverse effect when they consider treatment with propafenone in children with cardiac arrhythmias. Analysis of the white cell blood count, including a differential count, is recommended in all children in order to assess the true incidence of this adverse effect.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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