Leukopenia and Hepatotoxicity

A case report of a 72-year-old white female who was treated with a total of 260 mg chlorpromazine and who rapidly developed elevated serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, direct and total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and lactic dehydrogenase and whose peripheral white blood cell count dropped to 2,500/mm 3 ' is presented. The bone marrow was found to be hypocellular. Approximately 15 days following discontinuance of the drug, the laboratory values returned toward normal with marked clinical improvement in the patient. The possibility of other drugs causing similar changes in this patient is discussed as are the adverse effects of phenothiazines and methods of monitoring the patient who is receiving phenothiazine therapy.