Methimazole-Induced Agranulocytosis in a Mother and her Young Daughter, the Possible Role of Genetic Factors in the Development of Methimazole- Induced Agranulocytosis

Abstract

Agranulocytosis is a rare but life-threatening side effect of thionamides. Some data indicate that the susceptibility to thionamide-associated agranulocytosis in patients with Graves? disease has a genetic basis. The case histories of a mother and her daughter with Graves? disease who developed agranulocytosis with methima-zole are presented here. It seems reasonable to avoid the use of thionamide derivates in hyper-thyroid relatives of patients who have had thionamide-induced agranulocytosis.