[Incidence and probable etiology of toxic agranulocytosis in a definite population in the province of Buenos Aires (1963-1976)].

The medical records of 55 patients with toxic agranulocytosis (unrelated to radiation, anticancer drugs or known industrial toxics) were reviewed in a well defined population of the Province of Buenos Aires during 1963-1976. There were 65 episodes in 30 women and 25 men, age average 49 years. Nine patients repeated the episode by reexposure to the same drug. The annual incidence rate was 8.4 cases per million/year. Nineteen (35.5%) of the patients died. Forty-three episodes (64.3%) were associated with analgesic-antipyretics, mainly dipyrone (34 cases). In most situations, drugs were prescribed for mild complaints such as pharyngitis, arthralgias or abdominal pain. Although toxic agranulocytosis is an infrequent disease, its relationship with drugs is well known and its mortality remains high.